Posted on 4/16/2008 7:18:48 PM

NHL Furious Playoff Picks – More Friday Night Betting

By Tim Furious

Philadelphia Flyers (42-29-11) vs. Washington Capitals (43-31-8)

Friday, April 11th --- Verizon center, Washington --- 7:00pm EST

NHL Betting Line: Washington -155

Philadelphia ended the regular season in a flurry, going 7-2 SU in the final 9 games, including back-to-back shutouts over Pittsburgh and New Jersey, two playoff teams. Now they face the blistering hot Washington Capitals who boast the most dangerous goal scorer in Alexander Ovechkin. The Russian sharp shooter notched 65-goals this season, and is entering his very first playoff series. Get excited.

I’m not going to berate you online sports betting enthusiasts with the fact that the number “4” appears in Ovechkin’s name when you spell it in Russian, and that is the exact same number of wins you need to walk out of a series and advance, but I will tell you that Philadelphia is terrified of Ovie. Philadelphia is 2-6 SU when playing Washington. And yes, I know that the topic sentence of this is a ridiculous reason to bet on the Caps, but I love things like that.

The reason being that Philadelphia can’t play defense. They put opponents on their heels with 3.02 goals for per game, but they get ripped for 2.84 against per match. Running the score isn’t going to work when playing Washington because they play the same style of hockey, it’s just that they have better depth on defense and a much better goalie.

Cristobel Huet is playing with a chip on his shoulder and Mike Green has led a defensive corps that is playing nicely enough to keep teams out of the crease. This series is going to be a war, and while many may want to bet against Washington because of their youth and “first game jitters”, don’t be fooled. The bigger the stage, the bigger the performance by Ovechkin. And I have never written so highly about one player in a hockey game. that’s how unbelievable this guy is. Just don’t say I didn’t warn you when the betting bandwagon leaves the station.

NHL Furious Free Pick: Washington -155 (OVER)

Colorado Avalanche (44-31-7) vs. Minnesota Wild (44-28-10)

Friday, April 11th --- Xcel Energy Center, Minnesota --- 9:00pm EST

NHL Betting Line: Minnesota -135

Colorado continued its winning ways against Minnesota handedly, but they needed some luck to do it. Not that Minnesota wasn’t lucky. Yes, I’m looking at you Brian Rolston. Who celebrates like he just saved the whales after a puck goes in off a defenseman’s skate? Rolston. That’s who.

Either way, Colorado played some great two-way hockey, and while this is the only series I’ve projected to go the full seven games, Minnesota simply can’t let Colorado escape with two-wins and then let the series head back to Denver. They can’t. And they won’t.

Marion Gaborik is the best player on the ice at any given time, and while Ryan Smyth steps up his game when playing the Wild, I expect Minnesota to take control of this game and continue on. They two losses snapped a four-game winning streak, but Minnesota is still a great team at home and won’t let this game push to OT to get the victory.

NHL Furious Free Pick: Minnesota -135 (UNDER)

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