Posted on 3/4/2008 5:46:29 PM

NHL Furious Free Picks - More Tuesday Night Hockey Betting

By Tim Furious

Chicago Blackhawks (31-28-6) vs. Minnesota Wild (37-24-5)

Tuesday, March 4th --- Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul --- 8:00pm EST

NHL Betting Line: Minnesota -190

The Minnesota Wild sit atop the tough Northwest Division by two-points, and face a Chicago team that is barreling forward with a ton of momentum. They are 7-3 SU in their past 10 games and rallied for a huge victory over the Canucks recently. But that doesn’t dispel the fact that they are 0-5 SU on the road in Minnesota, and 1-9 SU in their past ten meeting with the Wild.

When they met two weeks ago, however, the Wild rallied to a 3-0 victory over the Wild. But with Minnesota riding a three-game winning streak, it’ll be interesting to see which momentum train gets derailed first. My bet would be on the Wild because the Hawks don’t play well against teams that can skate strong and fast. Chicago has 2.88 goals per game on the season, but allow 2.89 goals against. They are ineffective on special teams and only get off 27.95 shots per game.

Not that Minnesota is much better, but their shot quality is far better. The Wild average 2.71 goals on 26.62 shots per game, meaning that their shot selection is wise and well placed. Chicago is a great up and coming team, but the Wild are a contender in the present. Their strong skating will overpower a Chicago team that can get hurried in to mistakes. The Wild simply have too many smart veterans to lose to a bunch of rapscallion youngsters tonight.

NHL Free Pick: Minnesota -190

Vancouver Canucks (32-23-10) vs. Colorado Avalanche (34-26-6)

Tuesday, March 4th --- Pepsi Center, Denver --- 9:00pm EST

NHL Betting Line: Colorado -150

The betting community may be rushing to our sportsbook after the Ryan Smyth and Marek Svatos injuries because they think Vancouver is a good team, but they’d be dead wrong. As favorites, Vancouver is 17-20 SU. As dogs they are 15-14 SU. Couple that with a horrific 8-15 SU record over the course of their last 23 games and you have a betting man’s worse nightmare – a team with an all-world goalie on a team that can’t score or defend it’s net.

Why is that such a concern? Because the Roberto Luongo goes ballistic in net sometimes, turning in to the Great Wall of China and standing on his head like a break dancer. Vancouver allows 28.75 quality shots against on average and give up 2.57 goals. They only reason that isn’t higher is because of Luongo. If Dan Cloutier or Alex Auld were still in net, they would be averaging 3.5+ points against on a nightly basis.

Colorado is still a dangerous team without Ryan Smyth, who has battled injures all season, and Marek Svatos. While those injuries are severe, Adam Foote’s presence can’t be undersold. The Avs are 4-1 SU in their last 5 games and are coming off a triumphant road trip with a 5-2 throttling of LA at home. Bet on the home team tonight as the Avs deal Vancouver a deathly blow to their postseason hopes tonight as the new blue-line of Liles-Foote clamps down on Naslund and the Sedin twins. Colorado is a very dangerous two-way hockey team.

NHL Free Pick: Colorado -150

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