Detroit road favorite as NHL Playoffs start
By Jack Williams • Apr 14th, 2010 • Category: NHLThe Detroit Red Wings are in unfamiliar territory as they open the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs Wednesday.
They’re on the road.
Normally a top seed in the NHL’s Western Conference, the 5th-seeded Red Wings open their Western Conference quarterfinal series against the No. 4 seed Phoenix Coyotes in the desert, well, actually at Jobing.com Arena tonight (10:05 pm ET, Versus).
But the Red Wings are familiar with the fact they are the favorites, as NHL Odds at JustBet have Detroit a 115-moneyline favorite while the over/under total is at 5.
Detroit has dominated the Coyotes over the past 10 meetings, going 7-1-0-2, but the teams split their four-game season series at 2-2.
The teams last met Jan. 26 at Joe Louis Arena, when the Coyotes upset the Red Wings 5-4. The Red Wings had been -190 home favorites, and the score went over the total of 5.5.
In their last regular season game Sunday, the Red Wings (44-24-14) beat the Chicago Blackhawks 3-2 in overtime as a +165 underdog. The score fell under the over/under total of 5.5.
Brad Stuart scored the game-winning goal in overtime for Detroit, while Danny Cleary had a pair of assists in the win.
Phoenix (50-25-7) was edged 3-2 by the San Jose Sharks in their last game, as a +170 underdog. The score went under the over/under of 5.
Lee Stempniak and Matthew Lombardi scored for the Coyotes. Ilya Bryzgalov made 28 saves in a losing effort.
Detroit is 10-2 SU in its last 12 games overall, and 4-1 SU in its last five games on the road.
Phoenix is 5-0 SU in its last five games at home.
Jack Williams is a longtime sports writer and handicapper. Jack attended the University of Florida, where he earned a degree in journalism.
In the '80s, he began his career as a sportswriter, first in Miami, then in New York City, where he still lives.
He is a big fan of the New York Jets but he still has a soft spot for the Gators.
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