Posted on 4/15/2008 4:38:50 PM

NHL Free Playoff Picks – Stars Shooting Down Champion Ducks

By Tim Furious

Anaheim Ducks (47-27-8) vs. Dallas Stars (45-30-7)

Tuesday, April 15th --- American Airlines Center, Dallas --- 8:30pm

NHL Betting Line: Dallas -130

This is going to be a long piece because I grossly overestimated the Ducks, and vastly underestimated the Stars. I apologize to Dallas. There are two essential pieces missing for Anaheim, and their names are Andy McDonald and Dustin Penner. McDonald is one of the best face-off guys in the league, and an insanely strong two-way player. He was traded for the practically useless Doug Weight (nothing against Weight’s career, he just doesn’t “fit” in Anaheim, and he’s super old) to put aside cap space for the return of Teemu and Niedermeyer.

The Dustin Penner loss is even more glaring because the second-line of Anaheim last year, composed of Penner-Perry-Getzlaf, was absolutely ridiculous against the second-checking line of any team. They score in nearly every single game. Perhaps it’s no wonder that Anaheim only scored 2.50 goals per game this season. Perry’s injury is killing this team because he does all the little things. Penner’s is in Edmonton banking in on a contract that absolutely nobody can give him a hard time for, while Getzlaf leads the them in goals, but is getting shut down by the Stars effectively.

So who did Anaheim bring in to help fill the gap? Todd Bertuzzi for one. Bertuzzi played in 68 games this season, and notched a very respectable 40 points. He’s not the dominant player he used to be, and he’s still got great touch for a big man which is noted in his 26-assists (one in the post season) he earned this season.

And this is truly the problem with Anaheim. They simply don’t have the offense that they used to. They used to be two-lines deep and unstoppable. They threw Teemu Selanne at the best defenses, he’d usually win, and then that young trio used to just dismantle whomever was left. Now they don’t have that offensive depth, and it’s disgustingly obvious. With only 27.33 shots per game, things are getting murky in the Pond.

The Stars, on the other hand, have gone 4-1 SU in their past 5 games and Brad Richards is playing – well – like he used to in Tampa. Finally. Richards has three points (two goals, one assist). But the real story here is the fiery play of Mike Ribeiro, the man who was run out of Montreal by the fans, who responded by putting up 83-points this season, and has five in the post season already. Revenge, anyone? Rib’s got plenty.

Anaheim has fantastic defense, and All-Star goal tending, but their offense is not putting teams on their heels like they used to. And Dallas is a patient team. Anaheim is going to steal one of these two games in Dallas, but it probably won’t be tonight, with a rabid crowd thirsting for Stanley Cup Champion blood. Dallas is 7-2-0-1 SU when playing Anaheim in the last 10 and that is a betting trend you can bet to continue.

NHL Betting Free Picks: Dallas (OVER)

Score big with online sports betting in the BetUS.com sportsbook, where you’ll find NHL odds and lines for every NHL hockey game of the year. If you like to bet on NHL hockey, you’ll love the NHL player and game props in our online sportsbook. Join BetUS today!