NHL Hockey Free Predictions: Blackhawks vs Canucks – Game Four
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Team Records:
Chicago: 52-22-8
Vancouver: 49-28-5
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Blackhawks lead series 2-1
Sportsbook odds:
Blackhawks: +120 +1.5 (-250) Over 6 (+105)
Canucks: -140 -1.5 (+210) Under 6 (-125)
Blackhawks vs. Canucks Preview
Finally both team showed some emotion in the same game of their Western Conference semi-final series. Game 3 was proof that there is a huge difference in playing with “good emotion” or “bad emotion”.
The Chicago Blackhawks made the move that could potentially be the difference in the series with their move of Dustin Byfuglien from defense to the first forward line. Not only did he get under the skin of the Vancouver Canucks, but he also outscored the Canucks team single handedly.
It was the Byfuglien show in Wednesday night and if the Canucks cannot find a way to keep him away from Roberto Luongo, this could be a shorter series than most would have thought.
The Blackhawks top line was dominant in Game 3 which is not a good sign for the Vancouver Canucks. Along with Byfuglien’s hat trick, Jonathan Toews added three assists and Patrick Kane provided two assists.
Marion Hossa and second round revelation Kris Versteeg also scored in what was a complete team effort for the Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday night.
The Chicago defense has woken up from their Game 1 blip and has dominated the Canucks forwards. They are hitting, blocking shots, intercepting passes and contributing on the offensive end as well.
Goaltender Antti Niemi has been excellent in the last two games and is providing championship calibre net minding.
The Vancouver Canucks lost control on Wednesday night. They lost control of their emotion, of Dustin Byfuglien and ultimately lost control of home ice advantage in the series. It will be crucial for the Canucks to ground themselves and to keep focus on what has made them so successful, particularly at home this season.
The offense has looked lost against the Hawks in the last two games. The Sedin twins have a combined one assist in the last two and Mikael Sameulsson does not have a point in the series so far.
Too many shots are being blocked and too many passes are getting intercepted for the Canucks to be successful. You can bet that Coach Alain Vigneault and the Vancouver Canucks will be scouring tape on their day off to find a way to combat the Blackhawks aggressiveness.
The defensive corp. was way too generous to the Chicago Blackhawks in Game 3. The Hawks appeared to do whatever they wanted with little or no resistance, and the end result, Luongo was helpless against the traffic in front of him.
Vancouver is no stranger to adversity in the playoffs and they are certainly no stranger to a team trying to stir it up.
Vancouver adjusted to the Kings’ shit disturbing in Round 1 and I think they do it again in Round 2.
NHL Betting Trends:
CHICAGO is 11-10-0 straight up against VANCOUVER over the last 3 seasons
10 of 17 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons . (Over=+2.5 Units)
Vancouver is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Vancouver’s last 7 games
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Vancouver’s last 7 games at home
Vancouver is 14-5 SU in its last 19 games at home
Chicago is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Chicago’s last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Chicago’s last 6 games on the road
Chicago is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games on the road
Chicago Blackhawks vs. Vancouver Canucks Free NHL Pick:
Pick: Vancouver Canucks
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