The Chicago Blackhawks are set to take on the Anaheim Ducks tonight in Game 6 of the NHL Western Conference Finals. The game is scheduled for an 9:00 p.m. start time and it will be televised nationally on the NBC Sports Network. Currently the betting odds for the game have the Blackhawks favored to pick up another win in this one.

Chicago needs a win tonight to hold off elimination and find a way to keep their season going. There's already going to be a Game 7 in the Eastern Conference Finals now that the Rangers beat Tampa Bay last night, so why not have both series go the full length? Surely hockey fans would be on board for that.

Tonight Corey Crawford just has to play better. The first few goals in Monday night's game were going to be tough to stop no matter who was in between the pipes because of deflections and re-directs, but Chicago still found a way to battle back and forced the game into overtime. This series has been great for hockey fans as three of the five games to date have gone into the extra session and Game 3 was a single-goal game as well.

Anaheim could afford to drop this game, but that doesn't mean they should play a lazy style. Anaheim needs to come out firing like they have previously in the series, looking to get on top early and put the pressure on Chicago to get the job done. The Blackhawks have played well from behind on the scoreboard in this series, but they probably don't want to be put in that position again tonight.

The Ryan Getzlaf/Corey Perry/Ryan Kesler intensity and drive has to be matched by Chicago starts Patrick Kane/Jonathan Toews/Patrick Sharp and company. When the Ducks are flying around the ice at full speed and making plays, they're really tough to beat. Chicago has seen that first hand in this series, now the Blackhawks have to draw on their talent in this one tonight in order to avoid playing golf right away.

Free Pick: Chicago

 NFL Free Pick: Green Bay Packers at Chicago Bears

According to professional sports bettor Steve Fezzik, the early bird can catch a profitable worm if they put money down on Green Bay's opening week showing against the Chicago Bears. With the line currently at -4.5 at most Vegas sports books, Fezzik predicts it will move to -6.5 come game day, as no one is going to be betting on the Jay Cutler-helmed Bears, so the money will pour in on Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers. With that being the case, time strike early while the iron is hot.

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