2011 NHL Playoffs Picks – Blackhawks @ Canucks Game 2 Odds and Predictions – Free NHL Picks 4/15/11

Free NHL Playoffs Picks and Odds: Game 2 Chicago Blackhawks @ Vancouver Canucks Favorite, Moneyline, Total and Predictions 4/15/11:The Chicago Blackhawks were hoping to steal home-ice advantage from their nemesis in the Vancouver Canucks on Wednesday night, instead they are down 1 game with no goals and little momentum. The Canucks’ executed their game plan to perfection in building an early lead and relying on their defense to bring them to the finish line. The Hawks’ were completely shut out offensively and they gave Roberto Lulongo an easy night between the pipes. Coach Joel Quenville has publicly stated that he needs more from his top line and that he is not afraid of making moves, even if it is the postseason. Chicago’s top line had a -2 rating on Wednesday night and committed 6 minutes in penalties. Crawford was actually solid for the Hawks in net and for it not have been for his excellence the score would have been much different. He cut angles and maintained great technique for the duration of the 60 minutes. Defensively the Hawks’ were average, they did not support their offense when attacking and they created no opportunities on the power play. They did, however, give the Canucks little avenues to work with and they were no stranger to blocking the puck on Wednesday night. The Hawks’ are notorious slow starters in postseason competition; let’s not forget that they were down 2 games to 1 in their opening round series against the Predators last season.

The Vancouver Canucks’ showed why they are the best hockey club in the league on Wednesday night when they shut out the defending Stanley Cup champs. They quickly built a two goal lead in the first and relied on their defensive prowess and edge to finish the game out. That is the way teams win championships and coach Alan Vignault has instilled this mental attitude in the minds of all his players. No longer are they aggressively seeking multi goal efforts, they are now seeking early leads in efforts to transition to defensive game play. The opening game win was not only essential for the club as a whole, but it may have given goalie Roberto Lulongo just what he needed in order to expel some of this postseason demons. He has stout in net on Wednesday night and although he was tested few and far between, he was there when he needed to be. The all-star goaltender has a long, dreadful history of postseason ineptness and it is a trait that has lingered over his entire career to this point. A Stanley Cup victory this year, coupled with a Conn Smythe would cement his place in downtown Toronto when his career comes to pass. There is no question he has the ability to be the best goaltender in the game, but he will need to expel his issues in the playoffs before he is ever given consideration.

On Friday night we will recommend a play on the Chicago Blackhawks on road ice. We are going back to the well once again with the Hawks’. They were completely shut out on Wednesday night and posed little threat to the Canucks for the duration of the match. However, I like the chances of this club rebounding haven already been acclimated to Vancouvers’ playoff crowd and the intensity of playoff hockey. Chicago has an extremely talented club and it is hard to keep them down for two games in a row. I expect the Hawks’ top line, after being publicly ridiculed by team personnel, to come out swinging. The Canucks’ will be inserting Raffi Torres back into the lineup, but it may be a mistake in the making. Torres has shown a tendency to commit unnecessary penalties. The Blackhawks may find themselves in a few, key power play situations on Friday night. We will consider the Chicago Blackhawks evening this series before sending it back to the windy city. Cheers!

Free Pick: Chicago Blackhawks +170(moneyline)
Get extra FREE NHL Picks daily from expert handicappers on NSAwins.com’s 2011 NHL Predictions page.