Ducks vs Red Wings odds – David won’t slay Goliath this time
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When hockey betting fans look at the remaining teams in the Western Conference during these Stanley cup betting playoffs, there’s one glaring absence: the San Jose Sharks. The top seed in the hockey betting playoffs was supposed to make a deep run, eventually culminating in an epic clash with the defending champion Detroit Red Wings, but the Anaheim Ducks had other plans. Can lightning strike twice at the offshore sportsbook?
Ducks vs Red Wings odds: Detroit won’t make the same mistakes as San Jose
- WHO: Ducks vs Wings odds
- WHAT: Best-of-Seven series
- WHEN: Game 1 is Friday, May 1 at 7:00 p.m. ET
- WHERE: Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, MI
- KEY STAT: Detroit won season series 3-1
- THE PICK: Red Wings in six
It’s hard not to label the Ducks “giant killers” after they disposed of San Jose with relative ease – even the headline of this article alludes to David and Goliath. Is it fair, though, to label the Ducks as that much of an underdog, even against Detroit? The Ducks are still just two years removed from a Stanley Cup betting victory and have retained much of the personnel that made that team good. Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry are even better offensively and physically than they were then; Getzlaf in particular has matured into the total package as a player – strong, clutch, and with great vision. Scott Niedermayer and Chris Pronger remain pillars on defense even if they’re getting a bit long in the tooth.
The newcomer in Anaheim’s hockey betting success this season is Swiss goalie Jonas Hiller. He quieted any concerns about his inexperience during Anaheim’s first-round sportsbook upset; he stymied the Sharks and seems to have ice (from the Alps?) in his veins.
The Ducks odds could theoretically improve since they showed so much maturity against San Jose, but the Wings are a whole new challenge. Detroit is a well-oiled machine, with a phenomenal power play, the best NHL betting defenseman of the last 25 years in Nicklas Lidstrom and an enviable set of forwards who are offensively gifted, courageous in physical situations and defensively responsible. Pavel Datsyuk in particular is respected around the league as the most complete forward in the game.
Detroit’s Achilles heel entering Stanley Cup playoff betting this season was supposedly Chris Osgood’s play in goal, but he looked more than fine in the Wings’ sweep of Columbus in the first round, posting a .936 save percentage and 1.75 goals-against average. Maybe he was just saving himself for crunch time.
DON’S PICK: This series features the last two Stanley Cup betting champs and will thus be no picnic for either side, but the Wings odds don’t involve “choking”; they never underestimate their opponents and will be ready for the Ducks. Anaheim won’t have the experience edge it had in the first round, so this series will come down to depth and talent, and Detroit is superior in both regards. Bet on the Red Wings to reach the conference final.
Want more playoff NHL lines and hockey betting tips? The Betting edge at BetOnline.com has everything you need for Stanley Cup playoff betting.
Who better to offer great sports betting and hockey tips than a native Canadian? Like any good Canuck, Don Melrose eats, sleeps, breathes and bets hockey, making him the perfect NHL handicapper. Thoughts or questions? Email Comments@BetOnline.com.
