NHL Hockey Free Pick: Chicago Blackhawks vs Philadelphia Flyers
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Team records:
Chicago: 44-17-5
Philadelphia: 35-27-20
Tonight, 1:00p.m. ET
Sportsbook odds: Blackhawks -120, Flyers EVEN
Saturday’s NHL schedule features eight games, most of which have playoff implications. Chicago travels to Philadelphia in a matchup of hot young teams. Saturday’s NHL matinee is just one of many games that could be considered the marquee matchup on the schedule. It pits the numbers four and six offenses against each other in what should be a very entertaining game.
The Chicago Blackhawks have been a tad inconsistent since the Olympic break but are still in the elite category of the NHL. Their record since the break is 3-2. Impressive wins over teams like the Vancouver Canucks have been overshadowed by losses to bad teams like the New York Islanders. The Blackhawks will be looking to send a message to the rest of the NHL that they have gotten their hiccups out of the way and that they are ready to ramp up their stretch run and make a serious run at Lord Stanley’s Cup.
The defensive corp. of Brian Campbell, Duncan Keith and Brian Seabrook are the anchors to the Blackhawks team and are the prime reason that opposing teams have a difficult time handling the Hawks team. They are able to create offense themselves and are also able to kick-start offense from behind their own net with quality outlet passing. With quality passing and well timed dump ins from the defence, Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane and the other Chicago forwards have an easy time getting into the offensive zone and gain possession of the puck once they are there. Exploiting the Philadelphia slower and older defence through forchecking pressure will be the difference in Saturday’s game,
The Philadelphia Flyers have also been inconsistent since their return from the Olympic break. Their record is an underwhelming 3-2-1 since the break and have been beating up on lesser teams for their wins. Thursday’s humiliating 5-1 loss to the undermanned Bruins should act as wake up call for the boys. 
The studs on the Philadelphia lineup have been getting it done on offense for the Flyers once again and they will be relied upon heavily down the stretch. Mike Richards, Jeff Carter and Danielle Briere have to be solid in order to pick up the slack for the weaknesses on the team. The Philadelphia defence is an older bunch that appears to have a lot of trouble handling speed, and with Michael Leighton manning the nets, anything could happen on any given night for the Flyers.
The Chicago Blackhawks are a nightmare for any team to face. Their speed, size and desire is matched only by a few teams in the NHL. The Philadelphia Flyers defence is relatively old and slow and will be hard pressed to slow down the Chicago forecheck. It could get ugly for the Flyers on home ice on Saturday afternoon.
NHL Betting Trends:
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Chicago’s last 10 games when playing on the road against Philadelphia
Chicago is 7-2 SU in its last 9 games
The total has gone UNDER in 10 of Philadelphia’s last 14 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Philadelphia’s last 6 games at home
Pick: Chicago Blackhawks
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