Posted on 4/9/2008 4:41:21 PM

NHL Ice Hockey Playoff Betting – Western Conference

By Dave Golokhov

Colorado Avalanche @ Minnesota Wild

The Colorado Avalanche feel that they got one of the easier matchups in the first round. So do the Minnesota Wild.

The two division rivals will go at it again for a minimum of four games as the Wild took the regular season series 5-3.

The Wild have heightened expectations this year and quite frankly, are tired of being considered a flimsy Western Conference team. They have exited the playoffs early throughout the franchise’s existence and now face a team that continually makes deep playoff runs.

The Wild enter the playoffs are a 4-0-1 stretch and will need goaltender Nicklas Backstrom to stand on his head. The Avalanche employs Jose Theodore in net and while he’s reincarnated his career this season, he’s still going to be questioned unless he can carry the Avs through the playoffs.

The difference between the two teams might be their actions on trade deadline day. While the Wild stood pat, the Avs added Peter Forsberg and Adam Foote to bolster their team.

The Wild need to blitz Theodore and break him down. If they can’t get an advantage in net, they won’t win the series.

Hockey Free Picks: Colorado EVEN

Calgary Flames @ San Jose Sharks

No NHL is hotter than the San Jose Sharks. The Sharks are 18-0-2 in their last 20 games and haven’t lost in regulation since February.

This opening round series figures to be a physical one as both teams like to get tough, but the Flames don’t seem to have the magic they carried in 2004.

But 2004 was the last time these teams met in the playoffs as Calgary advanced.

Part of what made the Flames who they are now is goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff, who the Flames acquired from the Sharks because of Evgeni Nabokov. The Sharks netminder finished with 46 wins, six shutouts and a 2.14 goals against average.

But Calgary took three of four regular season matchups and might be tailored to be a team like San Jose more than most.

The Flames have made the postseason the last four years and the value is too good to pass up for a team that matches up well and will be looking to do better than their first round exits of the past two years.

Hockey Free Picks: San Jose +250

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