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Red Wings vs. Sharks Game 1 NHL Playoff Picks | Preview

Its 2011 NHL playoff conference semi-final gambling time once again. The Detroit Red Wings vs. San Jose Sharks Game 1. Both will be trying to pick up a win with the line opening with San Jose as a -125 favorite. The over/under is set at 5.5, here is the handicapping preview…

Game 1 Free Playoff Predictions: Detroit Red Wings vs San Jose Sharks

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Detroit Red Wings (47-25-10) at San Jose Sharks (48-25-9)
Date/Time: Friday, April 29, 2011, 10:05 PM ET
Venue: HP Pavillion at San Jose, San Jose, California
Broadcast: VERSUS (HD), TSN (HD)
Wings vs. Sharks Betting Lines from Bodog.com
Spread: Sharks -1.5 (+230)
Moneyline: Wings +105: Sharks -125
Over/Under: 5.5 goals

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The Detroit Red Wings and the San Jose Sharks kick off what should be the more competitive of the Western Conference semi-final series when the Wings head West on Friday night. For the Wings it will be their first game in eight days while the Sharks have been blessed with a little rest as well, dispatching the Kings three days ago.

Rust is a major buzz word ahead of this series for the Red Wings and Game 1 is where it could rear its ugly head. Henrik Zetterberg will be back but he will be rusty after a few weeks off and Johan Franzen will be back as well – likely less than 110%

The Sharks and the Wings are near mirror images of each other. They both have three lines that can do damage, both have solid defensive corps. and both have solid but unspectacular goaltenders. For Detroit it is Jimmy Howard who has played well but gave up 2.50 goals per game in the first round – a .915 save percentage. He will have to be sharp to make up for the game shape his team is in.

Up front the Wings are apparently healthy and very well rested – maybe too much so! Much has been said about the veterans needing time off but it may have just killed their momentum. The potent 3 – line offense is bound to struggle with timing in their first game in over a week!

San Jose won three of their four games against the Kings in overtime – not as dominants as you’d think. The Power Play was a miserable 2 for 23 and Antti Niemi owned a 3.99 goals against average and a .863 save percentage in the series against LA – hardly inspiring stuff!

The Sharks did look dangerous on offense against Los Angeles piling the shot on Jonathan Quick. The Sharks have three lines that can score and have looked good a stretches so far in the playoffs. You have to bring your “A-Game” to outscore this bunch.

NHL Betting Trends:
Over is 9-0 in DET last 9 vs. Western Conference.
DET are 16-7 in their last 23 Fri. games.
SJ are 7-1 in their last 8 vs. Central.
Over is 9-2-2 in SJ last 13 games following a win.
Over is 13-4-2 in SJ last 19 overall.
DET are 2-8 in the last 10 meetings.
Over is 7-2 in the last 9 meetings.

Betting Prediction: Not only will the Wings as a team be returning from a long layoff on Friday night but Henrik Zetterberg and Johan Franzen will be welcomed back into the lineup too. It will take a period or two for the team to get going. By then it may be too late!

Pick: San Jose Sharks -125

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By DaveB

Dave B has been a Fantasy Football writer for us for 10 years. A couch potato wannabe, Dave’s insights have been read by 10’s of people for years. He hope’s for world peace + global relaxation. Enjoy and remember only smoke things that are completely natural.