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Both the top seeds in the West have shown the ability to be less stable than the patients on HBO’s “In Treatment”. Both Detroit and San Jose can be the best team in the league and play dumb hockey the next contest. The Red Wings are still the top pick to skate away as champs at 2-1, with Sharks right behind at 5-2. Dallas is at 7-1 odds, however if they knock off San Jose, they might well go all the way. Colorado is the long shot in the West at 15-1. Hit three of four winners in first round, here are series previews. Detroit polished off nagging Nashville in six games and gets to play turn back the clock against old foe Colorado. From 1996 to 2002, these two franchises combined to win five of seven Stanley Cups and played some of the most creative free-flowing hockey that had been seen in years. It would be advised to not touch Avalanche goaltender Jose Theodore; since one could suffer third degree burns he is so hot. He tamed the Wild holding them to four goals in three straight wins.
Much of this matchup harkens back to days gone by with Peter Forsberg and Adam Foote coming back at the trade deadline to join Joe Sakic in Colorado, and Detroit able to counter with names, like Nicklas Lidstrom, Darren McCarty and Kris Draper. The Red Wings have held the upper hand, with Detroit 5-1 ATS at home and in the Mile High City the last three seasons.
The great equalizer for Colorado is possibly Theodore, with Detroit’s situation between the pipes a little shakier. Dominik Hasik stunk up it up in games three and four, forcing coach Mike Babcock to turn to Chris Osgood. If the Avs goaltender keeps playing like he finished against Minnesota, don’t be surprised if these two meet on May 7 in game seven.
Pick- Detroit -240 in seven
Remember the hi-top fade style of haircut, where hair on the sides is cut off or kept very low and hair on the top of the head is very long, well that has often been the description of what Dallas and San Jose did in the NHL playoffs, they faded. The Sharks nearly did it again, being pushed to the limit by Calgary, in a series that neither played like they were interested in winning. Dallas is walking a little taller, having knocked off last year’s Stanley Cup champs. The acquisition of Brad Richards late in the season has been key and added another scoring threat for the Stars along with Mike Modano and Mike Riberio. One difference about this Dallas team as compared to many in the past, they don’t mind the physical play, in fact they enjoy it.
San Jose will start the series just 25-20 ATS at the Shark Tank, traditionally one of the tougher buildings to win at. This Sharks squad has actually played better on the road with 28-16 ATS mark. Just like in Boston, how the reluctant superstar Joe Thornton goes, so does San Jose. If he is feeling good, Thornton will post eight points like he did on four wins against Flames. If not, the one point in the three losses says it all.
These division partners split eight games, with the road team winning an astonishing six times. Dallas has won eight of last 12 visits to San Jose and will hope its youthful blueliners can hold up. Road underdogs should give out some nice paydays at Sportsbook.com in this series and the stars appear to be aligned for Dallas to pull the upset.
Pick- Dallas +140 in six
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