Posted on
11/5/2007 3:34:14 PM
Hockey Betting – Colorado Avalanche vs. Calgary Flames
By Tim Furious
Calgary Flames vs. Colorado Avalanche
Monday, November 5th --- Pepsi Center, Denver --- 9:00pm EST
The Northwest division is perhaps the toughest and tightest pool in the entire NHL. The Colorado Avalanche and Minnesota Wild are battling for the top spot while Calgary and Vancouver remain only a few points behind. Gaining an advantage during the season is massively important since tie-breakers may end up deciding the playoff seeding. So when the Flames and Avalanche clash on Monday, there will be more on the line than usual.
The Flames will be facing an up-hill battle in Denver since the Avalanche have been flawless playing on their home ice. They are one of two unbeaten teams at home and have been murdering teams on the penalty kill. The Avs are ranked ninth playing a man down. Despite having Dion Phaneuf at the point with a booming shot, the Flames are still ranked eighteenth on the power play. They make good on 16.7 percent of their opportunities, which is not going to cut it if Colorado is able to give them a man advantage.
Calgary is allowing 3.00 goals against despite a solid blue-line corps that only allows 27.0 shots per game. Mikka Kipprrusoff has to be happy that his contract situation has been settled, but he has to start playing like he deserves that big money. The Flames have simply allowed too many quality shots to reach the crease.
Not helping Kippy is that the Flames get in to the penalty box far too often. They are second in the league with 239 penalty minutes, and Colorado can take advantage if the heated Flames let their frustrations manifest in to penalties. Colorado’s betting faithful can relax behind the cool, calm leadership of Joe Sakic and Ryan Smyth as the Avalanche continue their incredible play on home ice.
NHL Free Pick: Colorado Avalanche
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