Sports Betting Overview
Everything was going so well for the Detroit Red Wings to open the 2011-2012NHLseason. The Red Wings were 5-0-0 off the bat and had only allowed six goals in those first five games. Goaltender Jimmy Howard looked like he was finally ready to live up to his status as the number one goalie. ThenDetroitchanged goalies and put in Ty Conklin and headed off toWashingtonto face the Capitals. After getting blown out by the Capitals 7-1, the Red Wings went on to face the winless Columbus Blue Jackets. After a 4-1 loss to the Blue Jackets and a drop from first in the Western Conference to fifth, the Red Wings are taking a long look at what is going on and trying to get back on the winning track.
The San Jose Sharks have had goalie troubles for years. After letting Evgeni Nabakov go in lieu of Antti Niemi, the cost per head Sharks’ fans think they may have finally found their guy. In the early going of the 2011-2012 season, the Sharks have been rotating Niemi with backup Thomas Greiss to try and get more consistency in goal. It has been Niemi providing the consistency, and it looks like Niemi has won his starting job back after going 3-1 in his first four starts. The last thing the Sharks want to do is bounce between goalies because the bookie software will tell you that rotating goalies does not work. It looks like Niemi is ready to be the anchorSan Jose needs in net.
Detroit Red Wings
When goaltender Jimmy Howard was between the pipes for the Red Wings, the team looked unstoppable. But when Howard had to leave the team for a few days to be with his wife for the birth of the couple’s son, it looks like the Red Wings just fell apart. A sportsbook.com review of the Wings without Howard shows a team that gave up 11 goals in two games and only scored two. The Wings feel it necessary to fall back and protect Ty Conklin which puts a huge damper on any offensive punch. With Howard back in goal, the Red Wings become a confident bunch again and will giveSan Jose problems.
San Jose Sharks
The San Jose Sharks play better on the road than it does at home, and that means something in the NHL. The Sharks are 3-1-0on the road while posting a 1-2-0record at home. Now that the Sharks have settled back on Antti Niemi in goal, the team can start focusing on scoring goals. The Sharks have only 21 goals scored in seven games played this season. That is not what NHL fans expect from a high-scoring team likeSan Jose.
The Bottom Line
The Red Wings play a different game with Howard in net.Detroitis also undefeated at home, and much of that has to do with Howard. With Jimmy Howard back in the net, the Red Wings can switch back to an attacking mode. That will put the Sharks on its heels and drop the game in the lap of Antti Niemi.
Pick: Detroit Red Wings
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