The 2011 March Madness betting is starting to reach its climax just as the NHL playoffs are getting ready to begin. The sportsbook promo experts are having a very difficult time trying to figure out the defending Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks. At various points throughout the season, the Blackhawks have been two or three spots out of the playoffs and they have also been as high as fourth in the Western Conference standings. Inconsistency is not the wave a team wants to ride going into the playoffs, but the Blackhawks are having problems staying on course.
The Boston Bruins are a little easier for pay per head hockey fans to figure out. The Bruins are already in the Eastern Conference playoffs, and it also looks like the Bruins will win the Northeast Division. The Montreal Canadiens are second in the division, but with a seven-point deficit and only six games remaining in Montreal’s schedule, it looks like the Bruins will capture the division. But the Bruins can still catch the Washington Capitals for second place in the conference, and that would mean more home ice in the playoffs.
Chicago Blackhawks
The Blackhawks were high in the Western Conference standings and looked ready to climb higher. But a run of bad games dropped the defending champions to eighth place and holding on to the last playoff spot by only one point. The one thing going for Chicago is that it has eight games left in the season, which is the most among the five teams fighting for the seventh and eighth spots in the conference. In the last 10 games, Chicago has gone 5-3-2. The Blackhawks just lost to the Anaheim Ducks, which was a critical loss. The Ducks took over seventh place from the Blackhawks in that game, and knocked the Hawks down to eighth. Chicago has been a good road team this season, and that will help in Boston.
Boston Bruins
The Bruins are 4-4-2 in the last 10 games, but they just beat the Philadelphia Flyers to secure an Eastern Conference playoff berth. The Bruins are a much better road team than they are a home team. While that helps in the playoffs, it does not help when Boston is trying to win home games to improve their playoff standing. Goaltender Tim Thomas has gotten back on track after looking like he might be taking another late-season dive. Thomas is 3-0-0 in his last three games. He has one shutout and has only allowed two goals in the last three games. He will be quite a test for the Blackhawks.
The Bottom Line
After the Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup, they were forced to drop much of their team in order to stay under the salary cap. Key players like Dustin Byfuglein and goaltender Antti Niemi were let go and never really replaced. Now the Hawks are paying for those necessary roster moves, and it could cost them a playoff spot.
BSN Sports Pick: Boston Bruins
