Posted on 2/18/2008 5:40:45 PM

NHL Betting Furious Free Picks - Detroit’s Downward Spiral

By Tim Furious

Detroit Red Wings (41-15-5) vs. Colorado Avalanche (30-24-6)

Monday, February 18th --- Pepsi Center, Denver --- 8:00pm EST

NHL Betting Line: Detroit -135

Detroit is suffering its worst losing skid in 17 seasons. The team from Hockeytown has lost its last six games, with their goalie situation giving them a headache that even Motrin couldn’t help. Chris Osgood has been horrific in net, allowing 5.73 goals against per game in his last four starts. With the Dominator currently being dominated by a nagging hip injury, Jimmy Howard got the start in net and faired just as poorly.

Not helping the Wings is their atrocious Henrik Zetterberg, the team’s party starter, has been blanked in the past five games. For a team that averages 3.20 goals per game on the season, they have been abysmal during their sudden collapse. They are averaging just 1.7 goals per game in their last five.

To say that they can turn things around tonight against Colorado seems to be a betting truth. But how strong were those “betting truths” when this six-game skid began? Detroit has rocked the Avs in their three matchups this season, outscoring them 7-2, including shutting them out twice.

Though Ryan Smyth has returned to action, it hasn’t predicated any big swings for the Avs. They’ve lost their last three straight, including getting hammered by St. Louis and bullied by Chicago. Detroit can easily put a befuddled Avalanche team on its heels. But does it have the moxy to do so?

All signs point to yes, but those signs also point to the fact that Detroit shouldn’t be in this slump. When betting on hockey, you have to go against a cold goalie. The Avs still play great defense, allowing just 2.75 goals per game and Jose Theodore has performed at a high level. Whether it’s the third-stringer in net for the Wings, or the recently hapless Osgood, the chances for Detroit don’t look good. They are simply not playing like the best team in hockey right now and you should keep your betting dollars safely stowed away until they figure out what the blazes has happened to them.

Colorado is a punchy, youthful team, that needed to make some adjustments to Smyth’s return. The rabid fans in the Pepsi Center will devour a limping Wings squadron that is entering a difficult building, with a young team that is starving for some of that playoff fever. They’ll inch closer tonight with a win over Detroit.

NHL Free Pick: Colorado +115

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