NHL Playoffs picks: Anaheim Ducks at Chicago Blackhawks
This series is really starting to develop into something spectacular. We’ve been riding the Ducks throughout and have a series bet on them, so this game is incredibly important for us. We were with them when they won Game One despite being outplayed, when they lost Game Two in heartbreaking fashion, and we won in Game Three to take back control of the series. The Anaheim Ducks were my pick to make the finals from theWest, and I still think they’re the best team in hockey. The Chicago Blackhawks are winners though, so we’ve been treading cautiously here.
For me, this series comes down to a few factors. Yes, the Chicago Blackhawks seem to win in the playoffs every year and I am hesitant about going against them. Still, after taking back home ice I think we’ll see the reasons we supported Anaheim in the first place really come to the forefront of what decides games.
First, the Anaheim Ducks are a big and physical team. They get on you. The Chicago Blackhawks are dealing with injuries and have a completely depleted blue line. The hits are adding up, and the Blackhawks are starting to lose a step.
Second, the Ducks have depth. They can roll through their lines and beat up on you, but they also have some serious top-line firepower. Crawford seems to have rebounded from his sloppier games in the playoffs, but even with his improved performance this looks like a wash to me as far as goaltending goes with a strong edge offensively and in stamina going to Anaheim.
Z-Code sees this one pretty much as a coin flip on the road here with a desperate Chicago Blackhawks team fighting to stay in the series. As such, the underdog line has some value in it. I like Anaheim to win here and the +1.5 looks juicy too.
Ducks 3 – Blackhawks 2
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