Posted on 3/3/2008 7:14:28 PM

NHL Betting Odds - Ottawa Senators vs. Anaheim Ducks

By Tim Furious

Ottawa Senators (37-23-6) vs. Anaheim Ducks (37-23-7)

Monday, March 3rd --- Honda Center, Anaheim --- 10:00pm EST

NHL Betting Line: Anaheim -130

In the biggest ice tilt this evening, the Ottawa Senators head west to exact revenge on the Anaheim Ducks for taking away their chance to hoist the Stanley Cup at the culmination of last year’s 2007 NHL Season. The last time these two teams met was in June, and Anaheim devastated the Sens in a 6-2 blowout to become the reigning kings of rink. Not that Ottawa didn’t try, it’s just that they were out matched as the Ducks throttled everyone on their way to victory. With the Ducks once again picking up steam, can the Senators end their recent mediocrity to resurrect themselves as legitimate contenders?

The season started out in a flurry for the Senators. They roared to the top of the charts with the best record in the Eastern Conference and led the league in scoring. But injuries dismantled their feared top-line composed of Daniel Alfredsson, Dany Heatley and Jason Spezza. Then something really strange happened – teams realized that the Senators couldn’t play defense to save their lives. Gone are the days where the Senators 3.27 goals for average means anything. With a horrid 3.03 goals against, teams know they can beat these guys.

And the worst part for the Senators is that they have zero supporting cast. Mike Fisher looked to be the next big name to step up, but Fisher has failed to notched one point since the beginning of February. Cory Stillman has yet to be an effective teammate on a squad that desperately needs a fourth and fifth scorer to step up. There’s a twenty-five point drop-off from Heatley, third in scoring on the team with 67 points in 55 games, to the maligned Fisher who has 42 in 64 games.

Then the unthinkable happened in Ottawa. They went from being the most feared opponent from the East to a certifiable dud. They are a measly 3-7 SU in their past 10 games having gone 1-5 SU in their last 6 games on the road. The problem? Just like I’ve been saying since the beginning of the season, the Senators lack a true, number one goal tender. Ray Emery is an arrogant cancer and Martin Gerber is a backup at best, albeit a much nicer guy. You simply can not be a contender when you’re averaging 3.03 goals against.

The number’s are going to lie to the blind betting man in this game. Anaheim statistically boasts the third worst offense in the league with 2.54 goals for per game. But in their recent history, they have gone 5-0 SU with an average of 3.6 goals per game. Couple that with a rigid defense, anchored by the twin towers of Rob Niedermeyer and Chris Pronger, that only gives up 2.46 goals against, and you have the makings of a repeat champion.

The Senators are in no way, shape, or form the legitimate representatives of the Eastern Conference. They got shut out by the defensively inept Maple Leafs and the Bruins in back-to-back nights and are just 2-3 SU in their past five games. Despite a strong showing against a Pittsburgh team that is also overrated (too many shots against with a guy like Ty Conklin between the iron), there is no reason for the Ducks betting faithful to swing the other way.

Bet heavy on the Ducks to win in a blowout. The Ducks dismantle teams that can’t play defense with ease. They move the puck with such ease that it would be absurd to bet against them at this point. In eleven games back, Teemu has 12 points, and the Finnish Flash will burn the Senators blue-line in a game that shows just how bad things have gotten for the team from Canada’s capital city.

NHL Betting Free Picks: Anaheim -130

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