NHL Hockey Betting Free Picks: Phoenix @ Chicago
Added on Feb 05, 2010 by Jack Thurman in
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NHL betting action for Friday takes us to the Windy City as the Chicago Blackhawks host the Phoenix Coyotes in one of five games on the board at online betting sites worldwide. The Blackhawks have been playing well, but are still having trouble staying within range of the torrid San Jose Sharks at the top of the Western Conference. Phoenix is still hanging around the middle of the conference playoff pack.
Phoenix Coyotes at Chicago Blackhawks
February 5, 5:35 PM Pacific
An important component of analyzing NHL totals is being able to determine which team will be able to dictate tempo in a given matchup. Earlier in the season, this would have been considered a matchup of two ‘under’ teams as both the Coyotes and Blackhawks were primarily defensive oriented teams. The Blackhawks have improved their offensive output dramatically over the course of the season, and now rank #4 in goals per game for and #2 in scoring defense. The Coyotes don’t have the same potent offense, but even they have increased their goal scoring output of late.
Both teams have also played in more ‘Over’ games than they did in the first half of the season. Phoenix, who was perhaps the most ‘Under’ biased team in the NHL in the first half of the year, has played only two in their last 12 games (7 OV, 3 push). Chicago, meanwhile, has also been playing Over the total with regularity lately, exceeding the total in four of their last five and 7 of their last 12 games. While Phoenix would likely rather play the Blackhawks in a low scoring, defensive battle Chicago has many more offensive weapons and should be able to control the tempo here. They need all of the points they can get heading into the Winter Olympic break, and there’s no reason they’ll play this game at their opponent’s preferred tempo when they have all of the offensive firepower they need to make the Coyotes play a style that is much more difficult to overcome. Nice moneyline value on the ‘Over’ makes this all the more attractive.
Bet Phoenix/Chicago Over 5′ +125
