2010 NHL Playoffs Vegas Betting Line Preview

OffshoreInsiders.com Shea Matthews previews the 2010 NHL playoff odds from the West.

The NHL’s Western Conference is starting to mimic the NBA situation; it’s a deeper, more competitive group and should yield some closer, tougher-to-predict first-round matchups than the East will.

Try these sports betting predictions for the Western Conference quarter-final.

(1) San Jose Sharks vs (8) Colorado Avalanche

NHL odds: Sharks -400, Avalanche +320

The storyline: After yet another first-place finish, the Sharks are hoping to finally shake their “choker” reputation. Colorado defied expectations in the regular season, so playoff expectations aren’t too high. They’re happy to be here.

Free pick: Sharks in six. The pesky, speedy Avalanche forwards have the makeup of future playoff heroes and should push the Sharks harder than many sports betting blog pundits believe. But San Jose’s overall talent, led by Dan Boyle, Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau and Dany Heatley, will at least propel the Sharks into round two.

(2) Chicago Blackhawks vs (7) Nashville Predators

NHL odds: Blackhawks -400, Predators +320

The storyline: For the first time in years, the Blackhawks enter the playoffs expected to make a deep run and maybe even win the Stanley Cup. Their opponent, Nashville, sneaks into the postseason almost every year but hasn’t yet advanced past the first round.

Free pick: Blackhawks in five. The Preds are a plucky group, extremely well-coached, and have a talented blueline. But they can’t keep up with Chicago’s boatload of depth and high-end talent (Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, Marian Hossa) up front. The Hawks should come out flying; they won’t have to answer goaltending questions in round one.

(3) Vancouver Canucks vs (6) Los Angeles Kings

NHL odds: Canucks -250, Kings +200

The storyline: Vancouver enters the playoffs as a popular sleeper pick. After all, the Sedins twins exploded this season, with Henrik winning the scoring race and their all-world goalie, Roberto Luongo, won a gold medal for Canada. The Kings are hoping to do what Chicago did last year: power through the first two rounds ahead of schedule. They have the players to do it but they’re inexperienced.

Free pick: Canucks in six. A year from now, the series may go the other way, as the Kings are truly stacked with rising stars – none more important than Drew Doughty. But Vancouver is built for the playoffs – how dynamite is Ryan Kesler as a two-way center? – and mature enough to win now. The Kings’ pure skill will keep them in the series but I think Luongo will step up despite his late-season struggles.

(4) Phoenix Coyotes vs (5) Detroit Red Wings

NHL odds: Coyotes +165, Red Wings -190

The storyline: No sportsbook respect for the Coyotes, the only team with home-ice advantage who isn’t favored in its opening-round matchup. Can Ilya Bryzgalov’s stellar goaltending stop the surging, finally healthy Red Wings?

Free pick: Red Wings in five. Since their injured players returned, they’ve played much more like the team that reached the Stanley Cup final the last two seasons. The Coyotes are just too reliant on Bryzgalov; I don’t see them scoring enough to compete much in this series.

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