It's Game 3 between the Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks tonight in the Western Conference Playoffs. The game is scheduled for a 7:30 p.m. start time and it will be televised nationally on NBC Sports Network. Currently the NHL Playoff Odds have the Blackhawks favored by a comfortable amount.
It's not impossible to believe that the Blackhawks are favored in this game tonight. Chicago won eight games in a row over the Red Wings before Detroit was able to pick up a Game 2 victory on Saturday.
Detroit is a much younger, less experienced team this season but were able to connect for their 22nd straight playoff appearance this year. They were able to knock off the Anaheim Ducks in the opening series and now have a chance to put Chicago in a big hole. If the Wings can pick up victories tonight and in Game 4 Chicago will be in a big spot to have to win out in the series.
Blackhawk captain Jonathan Toews said he wasn't pleased with the team's efforts in Game 2 and that they have to improve. In order to do that, they have to match the intensity that Detroit is going to bring their way in this game tonight. In Game 1 Chicago set the pace for the game and Detroit couldn't keep it up through three full quarters.
Henrik Zetterberg has played very good defense for the Red Wings so far this series. Both he and Pavel Datsyuk have been the catalyst for Detroit in the playoffs and will have to come up big in tonight's game. The youngsters have played well for Detroit to this point as well. Brendan Smith scored the winning goal Saturday.
Red Wings goalie Jimmy Howard has been impressive, even after getting beat up in the third period of Game 1. Without that he's allowed just two goals in the other five periods combined against Chicago. Howard is going to be the reason Detroit wins this game tonight. He is coming up big for the Red Wings when they need him the most.
Detroit needs to stay out of the box tonight. When they don't allow the Blackhawks the be on special teams the Red Wings have the ability to hang around in the game. To us it looks like the Wings will be the right side tonight, even though they are underdogs according to the books.
Free Pick: Detroit 3, Chicago 2
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