NHL Game Preview for Wednesday March 21, 2012 – Vancouver Canucks @ Chicago Blackhawks

Online Sportsbook Overview

This is the time of the year when the Vancouver Canucks kick things in to high gear just in time to disappoint fans in the playoffs again. But this season is something different. Rather than stampeding towards the playoffs, the Canucks are limping into the post-season. As the March Madness spreads for the next round in the NCAA tournament get announced, the Canucks are actually struggling to finish the season strong. Fans inVancouver should not worry about the Canucks’ standing in the Western Conference becauseVancouver has a huge lead in the Pacific Division and a lock on second place in the Western Conference. ButVancouver is not making a push to overtake the St. Louis Blues for the Western Conference lead and that may be a good thing for the Canucks.

 

Every team from the Central Division, with the exception of the Columbus Blue Jackets, is making the playoffs this season. The Chicago Blackhawks still have a chance to move up to fourth in the Western Conference but no chance of catching the Blues for the Central Division lead. Considering how the season started for the Blackhawks, being in sixth place in the conference with a comfortable six-point pad between itself an the eighth place teams is a pretty good accomplishment. But even with some consistency in its game as of late, the price per head sports experts are still not sure how the Blackhawks will fare when the playoffs begin.

 

Vancouver Canucks

The Canucks is 3-5-2in the last 10 games and facing a crisis. While it can be refreshing to fans that the Canucks are not breaking out all of the stops to try and win the Western Conference, the play of both goaltenders is not been impressive lately. Roberto Luongo is 0-3-0 in his last three starts and Cory Schneider is 2-2-0in his last four starts. A betonline.com review of the Canucks’ situation shows thatVancouver may still not know which goalie it intends to start when the playoffs begin. Any hockey fan will tell you that goalie indecision heading into the playoffs is a very bad thing.

 

Chicago Blackhawks

The Blackhawks is 7-2-1in its last 10 games and is riding a three-game winning streak. To top that off, Chicagois 25-7-5at home, which is the third-best home record in the conference. The Blackhawks started putting winning streaks together right around the time that the NBA trade rumors were getting strongest and has been able to build confidence heading into the playoffs. The Blackhawks still need defensive help if it is going to go deep into the post-season, but it won’t need that help in this game.

 

The Bottom Line

This is a momentum game. The Blackhawks will use its momentum to roll over the Canucks and the Canucks will be forced to pedal forward without any sustainable momentum at all. Canucks fans are hoping the team picks up the pace some time soon.

 

Pick: Chicago Blackhawks

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