Stars vs Blackhawks NHL Spread/Handicapping
A pair of five game winning streaks will be on the line Monday night when the Dallas Stars visit the Chicago Blackhawks. The mood for each team will likely be very different however – the Hawks have all-but sewn up top seed in the West while the Stars have scratched and clawed their way back into playoff contention on the heels on their own five game win streak.
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Dallas Stars (21-17-2-1) at Chicago Blackhawks (31-5-0-4)
When: 8:00 PM ET, Monday, April 15, 2013
Where: United Center, Chicago, Illinois
Broadcast: TSN, NBCSN, CSN-CH
Stars vs. Hawks Betting Lines from Bovada
Dallas Stars +1½ -195 +167 Ov 5½ +113
Chicago Blackhawks -1½ +170 -184 Un 5½ -125
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Headline: Stars Visit Blackhawks in Possible First Round Preview
Chicago has won both meetings of the season between the two teams including an 8-1 win March 16.
The Dallas Starts traded their biggest names at the trade deadline but have since gone on quite a run to get them back in the playoff picture. It’s not like the wins have come against weak competition either – they have already defeated the likes of Los Angeles, Anaheim and San Jose twice during their impressive streak.
No Derek Roy, no Brenden Morrow, no Jaromir Jagr – no problem. Rookie Alex Chaisson has recorded six goals and an assist in his last five games, Ray Whitney has seven points in four games, Trevor Daley has four goals in three games, Loui Eriksson has three points in four games and Vernon Fiddler has an incredible 10 points in three games. The Stars offense has found another gear despite dealing some of their most talented stars.
Defense and goaltending has also been solid as of late but if hasn’t’ been Kari Lehtonen leading the charge. Richard Bachman has filled in for their injured #1 goaltender and has gone 4-0-0 in his last four games with a 1.07 GAA and .963 save % age. Lehtonen is on the verge of a return to the lineup however and could start Monday night. [ad-4437448]
The Chicago Blackhawks are back at it again – they are 8-1-1 in their last 10 games and they haven’t lost in regulation in more than two weeks, a span of eight games. Bryan Bickell has three goals in his past five games for Chicago, including the game-winner against St. Louis on Sunday, Jonathan Toews has been active offensively and Marian Hossa scored again Sunday and is yet another surging weapon in the Chicago offense. The Hawks are certainly elite offensively – they average 3.12 goals per game and they boast one of the deepest lineups in the league.
The Hawks defense continues to shine. Their goaltenders are both top 5 in the NHL in goals against average and the team as a whole allows just 1.98 goals per game – far and away the best in the league. Corey Crawford made 30 saves for his third shutout Sunday but he may sit in favor of Ray Emery who has posted shutouts in three of his last five starts.
Betting Prediction
A few trends to consider:
• DAL are 2-7 in their last 9 Mon. games.
• Over is 9-3-3 in DAL last 15 road games.
• Over is 10-4-1 in DAL last 15 overall.
• CHI are 13-4 in their last 17 home games.
• CHI are 20-7 in their last 27 Mon. games.
• CHI are 41-17 in their last 58 overall.
• Over is 7-1 in the last 8 meetings in Chicago.
Nobody would blame the Chicago coaching staff for resting a few of its player before the end of the season given their lead in the Western Conference and the fact that they have the Central locked up already.
But Sunday afternoon’s game was a sign that the Hawks have no intention of taking their foot off the gas. The Stars have played well against top competition the last couple of weeks but Monday, they appear to be in over their heads. The Hawks keep the roll going and they stop Dallas’s improbable win streak.
Pick: Chicago Blackhawks -184
