Predators at Canucks Game 5 Odds and Predictions – Free NHL Picks 5-7-11

Free NHL Playoffs Picks and Odds – Game 5 Nashville Predators at Vancouver Canucks Favorite, Moneyline, Total and Predictions 5/7/11: The Nashville Predators are up against the ropes heading back to British Columbia and they do not have much going for them at this point. They left Vancouver last week feeling pretty good about themselves having stolen a road game and evening up the series 1-1. But their good fortunes soon reversed, as the bounces did not go there way back at home. Mike Fisher and Sergei Kostitsyn, the catalysts from round 1, are having an unproductive series to this point and they might be crumbling with the burden of expectations hanging over them. They have yet to register a point between the two of them and it is quite evident that they are trying to hard to make things happen. The series landscape might have looked a lot brighter for the Predators if they could have gotten their power play going from the get-go. The Predators finally notched a power play tally in game 4 which made them 1-15 on the series, a stat that will most likely plague them throughout the upcoming off-season. If the Preds’ lose tonight the blame certainly cannot be placed on their Finish sensation in net. Pekka Rinne has been solid, and sensational at moments, throughout this series and he has done everything in his power to get the club to where they are now. Rinne has faced 138 shots in the four games against the Canucks, only allowing 9 to get by him. He has undoubtedly been the best player on the ice for the Predators on each given night in this series and we might not even be talking about game 5 for it not be for his spectacular play.

The Canucks are one win away from a birth into the western conference semi-finals and they will have a chance of earning the right at home tonight. Being the Presidents trophy winners from this past regular season holds a lot of weight and expectations along with it, but the Canucks have been able to live up to those expectations and play their potential of hockey on most nights this postseason. They enter game 5 tonight with all the momentum in the world as they have absolutely shut down the Predators offense and are having little issue getting to the net against Nashville’s vaunted defensive unit. Roberto Lulongo is living up to this billing, finally, and his demons of playoff hockey seem to be a thing of the past. For the most part, he has shown up each night and provided a solid outing in between the pipes. The Quebec native is controlling his rebounds and not letting early goals in games get the better of him for the duration of the tilt. Ryan Kesler, who was scoreless through the first 9 games of playoff action, has notched 3 goals in the past two games and is looking more and more like the catalyst of this club. He is seen hustling and fore checking on every shift he takes and the determination and power in his game is infectious.

Tonight we will recommend a play on the Vancouver Canucks(Check the latest NHL Odds at SBG Global Sportsbook) as they will look to wrap up the series on home ice and gain so much needed down time. For it not have been for an errant bounce late in game two this series might have been wrapped up in the music city. The Nashville Predators simply do not have the skill level and size to match up against this Vancouver Canucks club. The Canucks are not allowing the Predators to get to the net easy and they have absolutely shut down their powerplay. Roberto Lulongo is determined to hoist the Cup this year, it is quite evident in the attention to details that he is carrying out each night. His tendency to be careless with rebounds is gone and he is not giving up “garbage” goals. Vancouver is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing Nashville and s 5-2 SU in its last 7 games at home. On the flip side, Nashville is 7-14-1 SU in its last 22 games, when playing on the road against Vancouver. We will consider another quick second round NHL series cumulating tonight at Rogers Arena. Cheers!

Free Pick: Vancouver Canucks -210(Moneyline)
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