Canucks hope to cool off Blackhawks

Hockey Betting Lines

12/20/2008 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Excitement is starting to mount in Vancouver. The Canucks will play their first game tonight since the signing of Mats Sundin, as they host the Chicago Blackhawks at GM Place.

After deciding not to sign with a team this past offseason and also pondering possible retirement, Sundin elected to rejoin the league by signing with the Canucks on Thursday. Though not expected to join the club until December 27, the 37-year-old former first-overall pick should provide a nice little boost to a Vancouver team that is currently one point behind Calgary for first place in the Northwest Division.

Sundin played the last 13 of his 17 NHL seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs and has 555 goals and 766 assists in 1,305 games. He became a free agent this past offseason after declining to waive his no-trade clause during the 2007-08 season, when Toronto went 36-35-11 and missed the playoffs. The Swede posted 32 goals and 46 assists for the Maple Leafs last season.

Meanwhile, Vancouver enters this game coming off an emotionally-charged 4-2 victory over Edmonton on Wednesday. Daniel Sedin scored twice and picked up an assist in leading the Canucks on the night they raised former captain Trevor Linden's No. 16 into the rafters, just the second number retired in club history.

Jannik Hansen registered a goal and an assist for the Canucks, who have won three of their last four games. Curtis Sanford made 22 saves to collect the win.

Vancouver, 9-3-1 as the host this year, has now won the first two games of its current four-game homestand that ends on Monday versus Anaheim. However, the Canucks may have to continue that residency without a pair of defenseman in Sami Salo and Shane O'Brien. Salo left Thursday's game with an upper-body injury and is expected to miss four weeks, while O'Brien exited due to a leg issue and is questionable for tonight.

The Canucks will be facing one of the hottest teams in the NHL right now in the Blackhawks, who have won six straight games after last night's 3-2 overtime victory against Calgary.

Duncan Keith netted the winning goal just 23 seconds into OT, while Dave Bolland and Patrick Kane each scored once for the Blackhawks, who won six straight for the first time since December 26, 2001-January 6, 2002.

The club hasn't won seven in a row in nearly 28 years, last doing so from January 4-21, 1981.

Nikolai Khabibulin stopped 32 shots and Brian Campbell recorded a pair of assists in helping the Blackhawks improve to 7-0-1 in December. That run has helped Chicago move to within five points of first-place Detroit in the Central Division.

Chicago ends a three-game tour of western Canada tonight, having opened the swing with a 9-2 victory in Edmonton. The Blackhawks are 7-5-3 on the road, but has lost two straight and 10 of their last 11 in Vancouver.

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Eastern Conference Playoff Betting Trends

We all know by now that the “public” loves to put their money on the FAVORITES and the OVERS.  Just by taking a quick glance at Sportsbook.com’s “Betting Trends” it appears as is this tendency will continue as far as the Eastern Conference games are concerned.  For the inaugural games of the first round, 69% of the early money is on Toronto -4.5; 59% of bettors prefer Chicago -4.5; 84% are backing Detroit -9; and 56% think Cleveland -11.5 is the way to go.  As far as TOTALS are concerned, the only UNDER the “public” is backing is the Cleveland/ Washington game in which 83% are pounding the UNDER (190).  Remember, there is no better way to predict a possible line change than by monitoring MySportsbook.com’s “Betting Trends”.   By determining who the “public” is backing, you can get the most ideal line for your bet.  For example, if you are siding with the public you better place your bet before the line moves in the wrong direction.  On the other side of the coin, if you prefer the team that the “public” is betting against; you might be able to get and extra ½ or even more by placing your bet a bit later.  Under the “Betting Trends” section, Sportsbook.com also provides plenty of statistical data and trends in order for the bettor to make the most informed pick.  Below are some extremely important trends for the first round opponents of the Eastern Conference match-ups, more can be found at MySportsbook.com

New Jersey Nets vs. Toronto Raptors

Toronto was the most reliable covering team this season with a 48-33-1 ATS record but covered the OVER only 41.5% of the time.
The last 20 times these teams have played, the TOTAL has gone UNDER 16 times.
Versus Eastern Conference teams, Toronto is 33-19 ATS including 17-9 at home.
 New Jersey has covered four games in a row while Toronto has failed to cover their last four games.
When playing a team with a winning record during the second half of the season, New Jersey was just 5-13 ATS this season.
After scoring 105 points or more, Toronto has covered the OVER only 28% of the time this season. 
 
Miami Heat @ Chicago Bulls

Miami has failed to cover their last 7 games whereas Chicago has covered 6 out of their last 8 games.
Miami has covered the UNDER in four of their last five games whereas Chicago has covered the UNDER in five out of their last six.
When playing on Saturdays, Miami covered 80% of their games this season.
Away from home, Chicago is just 16-25 ATS this season.
At home, Miami covered the UNDER about 66% of the time whereas Chicago covered the UNDER about 61% of the time.
The last 13 times these teams have played each other, Chicago has covered 9 times.
In Miami’s last 11 road games, the UNDER covered 9 times. 
 
Orlando Magic @ Detroit Pistons

Detroit has covered 5 out of their last 6 games.
Away from home, Detroit is 28-13 ATS but just 14-26-1 ATS at home.
At home, Orlando covered the UNDER 64% of the time while Detroit covered the UNDER in 63% of their away games.
The last five times these teams have played in Detroit, the OVER covered each time.
Versus Eastern Conference teams, Detroit is 8-17-1 ATS at home but 17-9 ATS away.
Detroit covered the spread 5 out of the last 6 times they played Orlando.
After a Division game, Orlando covered the UNDER 87% of the time this season. 
 
Washington Wizards @ Cleveland Cavaliers

In a home game where the TOTAL is between 190 and 194.5 points, Cleveland is 9-1 ATS this season.
Washington has covered the UNDER in their last 6 games and in 8 of their last 9 games.
The last 6 times these teams have played each other, the UNDER covered each time.
When playing on 3 or more days of rest, Washington is just 18-37 ATS since 1996.
Since 1996, Washington is 28-16 ATS versus Cleveland including 11-5 over the last 3 seasons.
In their last 7 road games, Washington is 6-1 ATS.
Versus Eastern Conference teams at home, Washington is just 6-18-2 ATS. 
 
For even more betting trends for not just the NBA but for all of the major sports, log on to Sportsbook.com and click on “Trends”.  With only two months left in the NBA betting season it is important to be as well informed as possible in order to maximize your profit.  Also for all of you poker players, check out MySportsbook.com’s “WSOP Low Bid Auction”. You could be on your way to Vegas to play against the world’s best poker players for under a buck.

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