Categories
NHL

2010 Stanley Cup Playoff Picks – Red Wings vs. Sharks

The Round 2 Seven game Conference Semi Final series between the Detroit Red Wings and the San Jose Sharks opens Thursday night, here’s the odds and our prediction for the series.

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

Stanley Cup Betting fans sure are getting their money’s worth from the free nhl picks we give out here at Capperspicks.com. There are now 8 teams competing for Lord Stanley’s Cup. Stick with us for the entire 2010 NHL Stanley cup playoff run.

CLICK HERE TO CHECK OUT OUR HOCKEY HANDICAPPING PLAYS FOR THIS YEARS PLAYOFF ACTION —–>

Schedule.

  • Thursday, April 29 at San Jose, 9:00 p.m. TSN, VERSUS
  • Sunday, May 2 at San Jose, 8:00 p.m. TSN, VERSUS
  • Tuesday, May 4 at Detroit, 7:30 p.m. TSN, VERSUS
  • Thursday, May 6 at Detroit, 7:30 p.m. TSN, VERSUS
  • *Saturday, May 8 at San Jose, 10:00 p.m. TSN, VERSUS
  • *Monday, May 10 at Detroit, 7:30 p.m. TSN, VERSUS
  • *Wednesday, May 12 at San Jose, TBD TSN, VERSUS

Red Wings vs Sharks Odds To Win 7 Game Series: NHL CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS SERIERS PRICES BEST OF SEVEN 2-2-1-1-1

3101 Red Wings SERIES +125
3102 Sharks SERIES -145

It’s rare to see a sports rivalry built largely on upset performances but that truly is the foundation of the Red Wings/Sharks rivalry. It started when San Jose shocked Detroit in the mid 1990s and continued over the last 15 years. It seems the low seed in this rivalry always gives the higher seed tremendous headaches, doesn’t it?

So does that mean the Red Wings, who peaked late in the season, are destined to upset the perennial choker Sharks?

(5) Detroit Red Wings vs. (1) San Jose Sharks

They sure had to work hard for it but it’s safe to say no one was particularly surprised about Detroit “upsetting” higher-seeded Phoenix in round one.

The truth is that the Red Wings were simply not healthy in the first half of the season and that the current roster would’ve had home ice in round one if it was intact all season long.

For the most part, we know what we get with Detroit.

Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg are playoff monsters, scoring timely goals, stickhandling in phone booths, backchecking better than any other forwards in the league and never afraid to battle in high-traffic zones. Johan Franzen and Tomas Holmstrom are almost impossible to move from the front of the net.

Nick Lidstrom still has something left in the tank, as he showed with his two-goal effort from the blueline in Game 7. Checking forwards like Darren Helm perform their assignments admirably. The Red Wings haven’t stopped doing what they always do well.

An interesting wildcard for the Wings in these playoffs is Jimmy Howard. He’s the least experienced man they’ve had between the pipes in many a playoff but also may be the most talented.

The dynamic rookie looked like he belonged against Phoenix, posting a .919 save percentage and more good games than bad ones.

As well as Detroit played against Phoenix in round one, however, it faces a different beast in the San Jose Sharks. Chokers or not, they’re a well-oiled machine. What intrigued me most about round one was San Jose’s depth. Their go-to line of Dany Heatley, Patrick Marleau and Joe Thornton actually did fail miserably against Colorado, combining for one goal in six games, but it didn’t matter.

Secondary guys like Joe Pavelski, Ryan Clowe and Devin Setoguchi delivered in a big way.

Dan Boyle was his usual winning self, own goal aside, and Evgeni Nabokov was steady even though he wasn’t tested often. If the Sharks supposed stars get going, it’s scary to imagine what they can do.

I understand why bettors will feel bias toward history and pick the Red Wings to win this series.

It’s true that the Wings have a massive advantage in savvy and big-game performance from their stars. But I believe the Sharks can finally break through – at least for one more round. Sports Betting at Sportsbook.com

Thornton/Marleau/Heatley merely have to be average to support the rest of the team – a group that is actually starting to look “clutch.” San Jose was really quite dominant its Western Conference quarter-final series. Considering the Sharks had 50-plus shots and lost only on Boyle’s own goal in Game 3, they were only actually outplayed once in six games against Colorado.

Also, funnily enough, as experienced as Detroit is, Howard’s inexperience may sink the Wings. He was hot/cold against Phoenix but that won’t cut it against a team that generates as many scoring chances as San Jose does.

If Craig Anderson wasn’t unbelievable for Colorado, facing 50 shots seemingly every game, that series would’ve been a sweep.

If Howard sees that kind of rubber, he can’t be a background player anymore.

He’ll have to be Detroit’s most important player and I’m just not convinced he’s ready to do that yet.

Expect a war – with plenty of jitters and mental hiccups from the Sharks – but I think their size and goaltending advantages will give them a narrow win in the end.

Prediction: Sharks In Seven

CLICK HERE TO CHECK OUT SPORTSBOOK.COM’S NHL HOCKEY BETTING LINES FOR THIS WEEK’S MATCHUPS!!!!


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!"

6 replies on “2010 Stanley Cup Playoff Picks – Red Wings vs. Sharks”

Yah I Wouldnt Be So Sure About That…. Might Want To Take A Step Back And Open Your Eyes…

hahah you really still think wings in 6? well your down 3-0 so i think that is going to be kind of difficult at this point….

Comments are closed.