Defending Champions March On - Detroit to end Chicago's Cup Run

Betting NHL Playoffs Online - Detroit Ends Chicago's Cup Hopes on Wednesday

The NHL features the longest and most grueling postseason among any of North America's big four sports betting events. The regular-season's 82 games are followed by a two-month playoff grind for teams reaching the Cup Finals, making for a leisurely online NHL betting spectacle for gamblers, but for clubs going deep into the playoffs, it's anything but leisurely and any rest earned during postseason is colossal.

If you bet on NHL and support Chicago, you're young Blackhawks had one hell of a season and deserve a ton of credit, and it's likely they'll be growing postseason beards again after next year's regular season ends. And the brutally honest ''hawkey'' fans will confess, they've already heard the fat lady complete warming up her pipes, and know the bitch (beauty queen to Motowners) is standing by to begin singing once the horn sounds to end Game 5 in Detroit.

BetUS NHL odds indicate they heard her too, pricing the Red Wings hefty favorites at -235 to wrap up its series against the Blackhawks (+195), who have no reason to hang their heads. The Game 5 total currently sits at 5½ over -130. Detroit embarrassed the hosting Blackhawks 6-1 in Game 4 on Sunday. Overall, Chicago has been outscored 17-9 as they head back to the Joe, where the Red Wings took the first two in the series and probably the last.

The defending champions have edged Chicago in just about every faucet of the series, though they've been plagued with injuries. Stars including, six-time Norris Trophy-winning defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom (lower body-injury) and MVP finalist Pavel Datsyuk (foot) were sidelined on Sunday, but Detroit showcased its depth in the rout with both watching from the bench. As well, four-time Cup-winning forward Kris Draper (lower body-injury) missed Game 4.

Draper is a definite scratch for Wednesday's Game 5, however, the Red Wings hope to have Lidstrom and Datsyuk back on the ice to help conclude the series. Detroits' goalie Chris Osgood was pulled from net in the third period Sunday because of cramps due to dehydration, but in a report on Monday, he insisted he felt “great”. Of the remaining teams, rest would benefit Detroit the most, which is a huge incentive to close out the series on Wednesday.

However, they had 3-1 series leads twice in postseason last year and failed to advance on home ice either time. But needing the rest, facing a deflated beaten Blackhawks team, who's banged up themselves, expect Detroit to get the job done this year on home ice in Game 5, starting at 7:30pm EST. NHL wagering fans, lay the lumber and enjoy Detroit reaching the Cup Finals for the second time in as many years.

Free NHL Picks - Detroit -235 in Game 5