Up to NHL Free Picks

in NHL Free Picks

NHL Betting – Hawks Land in the Duck Pond

Bookmark and Share by Dave D

Chicago Blackhawks (44-18-6) @ Anaheim Ducks (31-29-8)

10:00 PM ET, Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Honda Center, Anaheim, California

On: XM Satellite Radio Channel 204

  • The Anaheim Ducks rank 13th on offense, and average 2.7 goals per game. The Ducks are 18.9% on the power play and have 48 power play goals.
  • The Chicago Blackhawks rank 4th on offense, and average 3.2 goals per game. The Blackhawks are 19.5% on the power play and have 48 power play goals.
  • The Ducks average 3.2 goals per game at home, and give up 2.9 goals against on defense.
  • The Blackhawks average 3.1 goals per game on the road, and give up 2.5 goals against on defense.

Chicago Blackhawks: -150

The Chicago Blackhawks will play their first game since the loss of Brian Campbell for the season, on Wednesday at the Pond in Anaheim. The loss of Campbell was only part was only part of the disappointment for the Hawks who also lost Sunday’s game in overtime to fellow top tier foe, the Washington Capitals. 

Chicago had a pretty poor week by their standards, going 1-2-1 in the four games that they played. Now they embark on a three game Western road trip. The Hawks have lost their last two games on the road but are still an elite team. With the talent on their roster, they should beat a banged up Anaheim team on Wednesday.

Anaheim Ducks: +130

Any dreams of the Anaheim Ducks making the playoffs have slipped away with their 4-5-1 stretch in their last 10 games. They are 1-4-1 in since the Olympic break with the lone bright spot coming in their last game – a win over the mighty San Jose Sharks.

The Ducks boast a roster that has a combined seven Olympic medals, but that success has not translated to the NHL. They are a struggling squad and now have to deal with injuries to two of their best players.

Ryan Getzlaf and Teemu Selanne are both considered questionable for Thursday’s game, and if they can’t go, it will be a long night in Anaheim. It will likely be a long night even if the two are healthy.

Bobby Ryan is a player that the Ducks will have to turn to in Selanne’s and Getzlaf’s absence and he has 30 points in his last 16 home games. He alone cannot get it done however.

Chicago is a dismal 4-17-2 in their last 23 meetings in Anaheim but I don’t expect their poor play to continue. Motivated by Sunday’s loss to Washington, the Hawks will get it done on Thursday.