NHL Underdogs Not Biting…….Yet
4/14/11
NHL favorites are off to a 4-1 start in the 2011 playoffs. Of the first 5 Games there were 3 unders, 1 over and a push. That’s a good thing if you’re looking to find spots to back live underdogs in the NHL playoffs.
There simply doesn’t figure to be many 1st round sweeps. Which means there should be some nice opportunities perhaps as early as Friday night to back a nice dog.
For example, the Blackhawks lost to the Canucks 2-0 but the opportunities were there for Chicago. Shots on goal were just about even with the Blackhawks at 32 and Vancouver at 33 and Chicago has 3 shots hit the post. We’re talking inches away from a very different outcome. Count on the defending Champs not to go out without a fight. As of this writing, no prices have been posted for Game 2 but we’ll be looking to back the Blackhawks if the price is right.
As predicted, it was the Rangers goaltending that kept them in Game 1 and figures to make them dangerous the rest of the way. We’re not as eager to back the Rangers. That would hold true for Phoenix as well, who was outplayed by the Red Wings and figures to have no chance.
The Penguins peppered Tampa goaltender Dwayne Roloson with 39 shots with 2 of them finding their way into the net along with an open net goal for a 3-0 win. The Lightening did manage 32 shots on goal, but, just as a hot MLB pitcher means everything in baseball, a hot goaltender is key in the NHL playoffs and Marc-Andre Fleury fits that role, pitching a shutout in Game 1.
Lastly, while not an underdog, the Anaheim Ducks were hot down the stretch going 15-5, and have on their roster talent that hoisted the Stanley Cup in 2007. It’s offense vs. defense in this series against the Predators and defense won Game 1. The price in all of the Games in this series figures to be low, making it possible to back the favorite which is exactly what we may look to do on Friday as we think the Ducks bounce back.
Check in each day here at Bettorsworld as we follow the NHL playoffs all the way through.