NHL Hockey Picks and Tips: Chicago Blackhawks at Colorado Avalanche
Tuesday, February 07, 2012
Frank Martin
The challenges are beginning to pile up for the Colorado Avalanche. They have lost five straight games and fallen three points behind Minnesota for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference.
Colorado hosts Chicago on Tuesday and while the Blackhawks are a bona fide Stanley Cup contender, the Avalanche have won the last two meetings – both in Chicago. The Blackhawks have also lost five straight, but their playoff standing is far more secure.
Chicago Blackhawks, which sits fourth in the ultra-tough Central Division, is nine points clear of ninth-place Dallas. The Avalanche lost in a shootout to Vancouver 3-2 on Saturday to snap a 10-game winning streak in the bonus format, including seven this season. The Blackhawks began their season-long nine-game road trip by going 0-for-Western Canada and were outscored 14-7 in the three games.
- Chicago Blackhawks @ Colorado Avalanche
When: 9:00 PM ET, Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Where: Pepsi Center, Denver, Colorado
TV: 9 p.m. ET, CS Chicago, Altitude (Avalanche)
The Blackhawks have opened as 135-moneyline favorites on SBG Global Sportsbook’s Live NHL Hockey Odds.
Chicago Blackhawks (29-17-7): If Chicago is to remain a serious threat to win its second Stanley Cup in three years, it must improve on its defense. “It has to be solid checking, defensive-minded (hockey) first,’’ defenseman Steve Montador said. Jonathan Toews, who leads Chicago and is tied for fourth in the NHL with 27 goals, missed practice Sunday with an undisclosed illness but is expected to play Tuesday. Marian Hossa leads the team with 53 points, but is pointless in his last three games.
Colorado Avalanche (26-25-3): Colorado hasn’t scored three goals in any of its last five games and has two or fewer in 10 of its last 12 games (3-7-2). Defenseman Tyler Barrie, 20, is expected to make his NHL debut. He was called up from Lake Erie of the American Hockey League, where he was an All-Star with five goals in 29 points. It was originally thought center Matt Duchene would be back by now after injuring his knee Dec. 29, but he hasn’t begun to practice and remains out indefinitely.
1. Colorado killed all five penalties against Vancouver, which has the top power play in the NHL.
2. The road team has won four of the last five meetings.
NHL PREDICTION: Blackhawks 3, Avalanche 2
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chicago blackhawks - colorado avalanche - jonathan toews - marian hossa - matt duchene - pepsi center - steve montador - tyler barrie
