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2010 Stanley Cup Playoff Picks – Red Wings vs. Coyotes

The 7 game series between the Detroit Red Wings and the Phoenix Coyotes opens on Wednesday night, here’s the odds and our prediction for the series.

NHL Playoff Betting: Red Wings vs Coyotes Series Preview & Pick

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  • GAME 1: @Phoenix, Wed. 4/14, 10 p.m.
  • GAME 2: @Phoenix, Fri. 4/16, 10 p.m.
  • GAME 3: @Detroit, Sun. 4/18, 3 p.m.
  • GAME 4: @Detroit, Tue. 4/20, 6:30 p.m.
  • GAME 5*: @Phoenix, Fri. 4/23, 10 p.m.
  • GAME 6*: @Detroit, Sun. 4/25, 2 p.m.
  • GAME 7*: @Phoenix, Tue. 4/27, TBD

Remember when the Red Wings were on the outside of the Western Conference playoff picture looking in? That was the case as recently as the Olympic break. But anyone who really thought the savvy, experienced and talented Wings would miss out on the big dance should’ve known better. Now, the question is whether or not we should view them as the favorite against Phoenix despite opening the series on the road.

(5) DETROIT RED WINGS VS (4) PHOENIX COYOTES

The most important thing for bettors to remember entering this Western Conference Quarter-final matchup is that the Red Wings who finished the season so strongly are closer to the “real” Wings. The reason: they’re healthy now. Their early-season struggles were the result of injuries to Johan Franzen, Nicklas Kronwall, Valtteri Filppula and Dan Cleary, to name a few. Once all those seasoned vets (and former Stanley Cup champions) returned to the lineup, things changed for the better.

The Red Wings may not have the same firepower they had when Marian Hossa, Jiri Hudler and Mikael Samuelsson were part of the attack last season but they still have plenty. Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk are big-game players who may be saving their best efforts for the playoffs this season and both Franzen and Tomas Holmstrom have a knack for scoring in the clutch.

The Wings’ defense isn’t particularly big (though Nicklas Kronwall can still take the body quite well), relying instead on crisp skating and superb positioning. It’s the Nik Lidstrom school of thought and it’s worked well for years.

The host team of the series, Phoenix, has been an inspiring story this season. A year ago, they only popped up in the news for talk of relocation and bankruptcy. This season, they challenged the Sharks for first place in the Western Conference. So how did they do it? Sports Betting at Sportsbook.com

First and foremost, 2009-10 was the Ilya Bryzgalov show. The former castoff from Anaheim looks like a shoo-in to be a Vezina Trophy finalist this season after posting 42 wins, a 2.29 goals against average, a .920 save percentage and eight shutouts.

Bryzgalov was the Coyotes this season – so much that I wonder if they even would’ve made the playoffs at all without him. Don’t believe me? Consider that (a) Only six teams scored fewer goals than Phoenix this season, (b) Phoenix had the NHL’s 28th-ranked power play, (c) Radim Vrbata led the team with just 24 goals and (d) Shane Doan led the team with just 55 points. On paper, the Coyotes have a decent amount of offensive talent, with guys like Martin Hanzal and Matthew Lombardi flashing good wheels, but the bottom line is that this team was not any good at all offensively during the regular season.

Even the Coyotes’ “D” may have been propped up by Bryzgalov’s play during the season. Adrian Aucoin, Ed Jovanovski and company have plenty of experience but they’re slowing down as they exit their primes.

To me, Phoenix’s only chance to win the series comes down to goaltending. Detroit’s Jimmy Howard finally came into his own and seized the starter’s reins this season but he’s unproven in the playoffs. That means Bryzgalov could outduel him and keep the Coyotes in the series. But even a stellar performance from Bryzgalov may only buy the Desert Dogs a win or two. And let’s not forget that the Wings’ backup goalie, Chris Osgood is eighth on the all-time playoff wins list. Not a bad insurance policy.

Prediction: Red Wings in six.

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By Cappers Picks

Articles on CappersPicks.com are written by Q (the Head Honcho) at Cappers Picks or by our resident "in house" handicapper Razor Ray Monohan! Enjoy the free picks folks! "Pad that bankroll one day at a time!"