NHL Stanley Cup Finals- Game 5 Betting Preview
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Boston Bruins at Vancouver Canucks
Friday, June 10, 2011 at 8:00 pm EST on NBC
Spread: Vancouver -1.5
Money Line: Boston +155, Vancouver -175
Over/Under: 5
The Boston Bruins will look to carry the momentum of two dominating victories at home into Vancouver when they face the Canucks this Friday night at Rogers Arena in Game 5 of this year’s Stanley Cup Finals in what has suddenly become a best-of-three series. Game time is set for 8 p.m. (ET) and it will be broadcast nationally on NBC.
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Boston only managed to score a total of two goals in the first two games on the road, but a trip home triggered an offensive explosion including a 4-0 shutout in Wednesday night’s Game 4 as a 118 favorite. This followed an 8-1 rout in Game 3 as a 123 favorite. The Bruins are now 14-8 overall; 11-4 as a favorite and 3-4 as an underdog. The total is 5-4-1 in their 10 games on the road and is 11-10-1 overall.
The offensive onslaught in the last two games has been led by Brad Marchand and Michael Ryder, who have scored four of Boston’s 12 goals. David Krejci, who leads the team this postseason with 11 goals, also came up big with a goal and two assists. The Bruins power play, which had been non-existent through the first three series of the playoffs, has gone 3-for-17 in this series.
The biggest reason this series is now tied 2-2 has been the play of goalie Tim Thomas. He has given up a total of five goals in four games and has turned away 78 of Vancouver’s 79 shots in the last two games. The Bruins have also done a fantastic job of shutting down the Canucks’ power play, which had converted 28 percent of their opportunities in the first rounds this postseason.
Vancouver has to hope a change in scenery brings about a change in attitude as it could not come close to matching Boston’s intensity these past two games. Other than the first period of Game 3, the Canucks have been completely outplayed in every phase of the game. Their top sharp shooters, Daniel Sedin and Ryan Kessler have been shutout and the power play has failed to capitalize on any of its 22 chances.
Even more discouraging has been the play of one of the top goalies in the league; Roberto Luongo. He was stellar through the first two games with 64 saves on 66 shots, but let the floodgates open in Game 3; giving up eight goals on 38 shots. He lasted into the third period of Wednesday night’s game but was finally pulled for Cory Schneider once Boston went up 4-0.
Vancouver is now 14-8 overall this postseason; 1-4 as an underdog and 13-4 as a favorite. The total has stayed ‘under’ in eight of its 11 games at home and is 8-11-3 overall.
The odds makers have the Vancouver Canucks as a -1.5 point favorite with an over/under of 5.
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Prediction: This series hinges upon this game as Vancouver has to hope that returning to its home ice will counteract the ton of momentum Boston now brings into Friday night. The hit on Nathan Horton by Aaron Rome in Game 3 along with the play of Thomas in goal have both worked to swing this series heavily in the Bruins’ favor. The Canucks were not the best team in the league by accident and know this is a do-or-die game for their chances to hoist their first Stanley Cup. Look for them to respond with much better effort that results in a much needed win at home on Friday night.
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Boston Bruins Betting Trends:
- Boston is 14-6 SU in its last 20 games
- Boston is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games on the road
Vancouver Canucks Betting Trends:
- Vancouver is 7-3 SU in its last 10 games
- The total has gone UNDER in 12 of Vancouver’s last 16 games at home
- Vancouver is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home
- Vancouver is 5-9-1 SU in its last 15 games ,when playing Boston
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