Blackhawks vs Wild NHL Spread/Handicapping
Playoff Bound Teams Collide Tuesday Night – Blackhawks Visit Wild
Two serious contenders in the Western Conference meet in what is the marquee game on the NHL’s busy Tuesday night schedule. The Chicago Blackhawks, winners of four of their last five games head to Minnesota to take on a Wild team that has stumbled as of late and have lost three of their last four games. The two teams have split their two meetings this season but the Blackhawks have gained at least a point in their last eight games against the Wild going 5-0-3 over that span.
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Chicago Blackhawks (29-5-0-4) at Minnesota Wild (22-14-1-1)
When: 8:00 PM ET, Tuesday, April 9, 2013
Where: Xcel Energy Center, Saint Paul, Minnesota
Broadcast: TSN2, NBCSN, CSN-CH
Hawks vs. Wild Betting Lines from betonline.com
Chicago Blackhawks -1½ +230 -110 Ov 5 -116
Minnesota Wild +1½ -275 +100 Un 5 +105
The Chicago Blackhawks are still top dogs in the NHL standings but they have company in the chase for the President’s trophy – Anaheim and Pittsburgh are hot on their heels for the overall lead in the NHL. They have continued their incredible season run with a 4-0-1 stretch and they have won three straight games on the road.
Chicago continues to be an elite offense – 3.24 goals per game with no signs of slowing down. Rookie Brandon Saad has five goals and two assists in his last five games, Patrick Kane has 19 points in 13 games, Brian Bickell has three points in three games and Michal Rosival has two points in two games. Jonathan Toews has been terrific as well but Marian Hossa has been held pointless in his last three games. Patrick Sharp (shoulder injury) is expected to return to the lineup after missing more than a month to add to the potency of this team – like they need it!
While the offense seems to steal the headlines for Chicago, the defense has really been the story for Chicago this year. They are among the league leaders in goals against – just 2.08 goals allowed per game. Ray Emery made 19 saves after making 20 in Saturday’s 1-0 win at Nashville so logic says that Corey Crawford gets the start Tuesday. He is 2-0-1 in his last three games with a 1.89 GAA and .928 save % age.[ad-4437448]
The Minnesota Wild have a lot to play for with 10 games remaining in their season. After catching and surpassing the Vancouver Canucks in the Northwest Division they have slid backward a tad but still have first place within their sights. They will be without Dany Heatley who again Tuesday – he is still absent from the lineup due to a shoulder injury.
The Wild have climbed to the middle of the pack in terms of offense – an average of 2.53 goals per game. They did score three goals last time out but prior to that they were outscored 11-3 during a three game home losing streak. Jason Pominville has four points in his past three games dating back to his final outing with the Buffalo Sabres and Zach Parise has 16 points in 15 games but that’s about all as far as Hot Minnesota Wild. Devin Setoguchi and Ryan Suter have one point each in their last four games, Pierre Marc-Bouchard is pointless in four games and Jared Spurgeon has just one point in his last five games.
Minnesota hasn’t quite been the defensive force that we have become used to – middle-of-the-pack and allowing 2.60 goals per game. Niklas Backstrom is coming off a shutout Saturday and has a 20-10-2 record this season with a 2.44 GAA and .913 save % age this season.
Betting Prediction
A few trends to consider:• Over is 6-1-1 in CHI last 8 games following a win.
• CHI are 7-2 in their last 9 vs. Northwest.
• CHI are 21-7 in their last 28 road games.
• Under is 7-1-1 in MIN last 9 Tue. games.
• MIN are 3-13 in their last 16 Tue. games.
• MIN are 8-2 in their last 10 home games.
• CHI are 6-13 in the last 19 meetings in Minnesota.
The Minnesota Wild should be come out and play some desperate hockey on Tuesday night in a building that they have gone 13-4-1 in this season. But the combination of an injured super star and some struggling Studs puts them behind the eight-ball. Chicago is too deep, too good and too motivated to hold off their pursuers atop the NHL standings to be denied. The Hawks have been terrific lately and have been solid against Minnesota the last couple of seasons – the trend continues!
Pick: Chicago Blackhawks -110
