2010 Stanley Cup Finals: Preview and a Pick

ScoresOddsPicks Shea Matthews has everything fans and bettors need to know for the Stanley Cup Finals.

Talk about a banner year for hockey.

First, the Winter Olympics produced better ratings than the last 12 NBA Finals.

Now, we have a dream big-market matchup of Philadelphia and Chicago in the 2010 Stanley Cup final.

Many NHL futures predicted this matchup at the beginning of the season but the Flyers took a bizarre route to get there, qualifying for the playoffs in a shootout on the last day of the regular season.

Time for your sports betting blog breakdown of what could be the most watched finals in years.

Philadelphia Flyers vs. Chicago Blackhawks

Sportsbook odds to win series—Flyers +170, Blackhawks -200

The way I see it, this year’s Stanley Cup Final pits two teams against each other that are very similar in their strengths. However, in the end, I think one team does everything slightly better than the other.

The Flyers really struggled early in 2009-10. Whether it was locker room issues (Mike Richards and Chris Pronger jockeying for leadership), confidence, or the revolving door of brittle goaltenders, everything went wrong for Philly.

Once Peter Laviolette took over, the gradual turnaround happened. As the former coach of the Carolina Hurricanes, Laviolette was a perfect fit for Philly.

The Flyers have done their damage against the Devils, Bruins and Canadiens exactly as we’d expect them to by hammering defenders on the forecheck again and again.

Hard hitters like Scott Hartnell, Daniel Carcillo, and Mike Richards have bludgeoned, battered, and bruised opponents on the forecheck.

Even smaller guys like Claude Giroux and Arron Asham have been first on the puck again and again. These guys give opponents no time to think and generate turnovers and goals that way.

The Flyers big, tough defense has also held strong. So much so, that Michael Leighton has earned shutouts by only playing above average hockey (as opposed to standing on his head). Chris Pronger, Braydon Coburn, and Kimmo Timonen smothered the Canadiens’ smallish forwards in the Eastern Conference Final.

However, the Chicago Blackhawks give Philly a matchup like nothing they’ve seen so far in these playoffs.

Here’s how I break down why the Flyers won’t be able to handle them.

The Flyers pounded the Devils’ defense because it was small, the Bruins' defense because it lacked depth, and the Habs' defense because, while it was big and deep, it lacked top-end talent with Andrei Markov out.

Well, guess what, the Blackhawks’ defense is big, deep, and talented.

The Duncan Keiths and Brent Seabrooks of the world can take beatings but are also skilled enough to move the puck up the ice quickly or skate it out of trouble.

Chicago also has specialists like Brent Sopel (shot blocking) and Brian Campbell (skating, power play) to support Keith and Seabrook.

The Flyers’ defense shut down New Jersey because it lacked physicality, the Bruins' because they lacked true scoring touch, and the Habs' because they were too small.

Chicago has the best combination of speed, talent, and depth at forward in the NHL. Chris Pronger has manhandled opponents but will get a steady diet of Dustin Byfuglien.

In Dave Bolland, Jonathan Toews, Kris Versteeg, and even Marian Hossa, the Hawks have an amazing corps of forwards who combine offensive flair with tenacious checking at both ends of the ice.

Even Anti Niemi has been rock-solid in net and has even stolen a game or two in these playoffs.

This should be a physical, fun, dramatic Cup Final for NHL betting fans to enjoy, but Chicago should prevail.

Philly does many things well but Chicago does the same things even better. The most complete team in hockey should end its 49 year title drought.

Free pick : Blackhawks (-200) in six