NorthWest Sports Blog brings you daily features on Oregon, Washington State, and BC amateur and pro sports teams.
NWSB insider and Vancouver Canucks hockey blogger Richard Hodges gives us his top 5 fearless predictions for the 2012 Vancouver Canucks hockey team. (The Lockout edition) It will be a tougher division but if the Canucks don’t finish on top the wounds will be probably be self-inflicted rather than from a burgeoning rival. How is the center depth? Manny Malhotra, Henrik Sedin and Ryan Kesler enough? Richard says no.
NWSB Insider and Vancouver Canucks blogger Richard Hodges weighs in with his ananlysis of the Justin Schultz NHL free agency situation. While the addition of Justin Schultz was very intriguing, the Canucks will be just fine without him Richard says. The Canucks are not a club that guarantees playing time to rookies. Just ask Cody Hodgson.
NWSB Insider and Vancouver Canucks blogger Richard Hodges weighs in with his ananlysis of the Justin Schultz NHL free agency situation. He’s 21, can’t make more than $925,000 on his entry level contract. The Canucks are simply his best shot to win the cup, all other factors aside. The rumoured favourites for Schultz’s services are the, the Oilers, the Blackhawks, the Rangers, and the Maple Leafs.
Free NHL Betting Odds & Picks on the Vancouver Canucks vs. L.A. Kings Game 4 Wednesday night matchup. The Kings are -119 home favourites. The over/under is set at 5. Dave likes the road team in this one. With the possibility of an embarrassing first round sweep, the Canucks look to get on the board to extend this series. With Daniel Sedin possibly finally coming back from a concussion, it could tip the scales in the Canucks’ favor.
Free NHL Betting Odds & Picks on the L.A. Kings vs. Vancouver Canucks Game 3 Sunday night matchup. The Kings are -114 home favourites. The over/under is set at 5. Dave likes the road team in this one. Back to LA where the Kings have lost five straight playoff games dating back to 2010. Ryan Kesler played perhaps his best game of the last couple of months. Henrik Sedin has looked lost without his brother Daniel Sedin.
Free NHL Betting Odds & Picks on the L.A. Kings vs. Vancouver Canucks Game 2 Friday night matchup. The Canucks are -172 home favourites. The over/under is set at 5. Dave likes the home team in this one. Roberto Luongo was unquestionably the star for Vancouver in Game 1 – a great sign for the Canucks going forward. Ryan Kesler recorded his first multi-point game since December.
Free NHL Betting Odds & Picks on the L.A. Kings vs. Vancouver Canucks Wednesday night matchup. The Canucks are -161 home favourites. The over/under is set at 5. Dave likes the home team in this one. Jonathan Quick is a Vezina Trophy candidate for a reason. The biggest question mark ahead of Game 1 for the Canucks is Roberto Luongo. Wednesday’s game is likely to be a low scoring affair.
Free NHL Betting Odds & Picks on the Edmonton Oilers vs. Vancouver Canucks Saturday night matchup. The Canucks are -232 home favourites. The over/under is set at 5.5. Dave likes the road team in this one. Devan Dubnyk is 6-2-2 in his last 10 starts. Chris Higgins keeps getting it done and has five goals in his last seven games. Alex Burrows scored for the third time in two games Thursday night.
Free NHL Betting Odds & Picks on the Vancouver Canucks vs. Calgary Flames Thursday night matchup. The Canucks are -146 road favorites. The over/under is set at 5. Dave likes the road team in this one. Mikka Kiprusoff is 2-7-0 in his last 10 appearances against Vancouver. Chris Higgins keeps getting it done and has five goals in his last six games, Alex Burrows scored twice Tuesday night.
Free NHL Betting Odds & Picks on the Anaheim Ducks vs. Vancouver Canucks Friday night matchup. The Canucks are -202 home favourites. The over/under is set at 5. By far the most impressive part of Vancouver’s game lately has been the goaltending. Both Roberto Luongo and Cory Schneider are 2-0-0 in their last two starts.
Free NHL Betting Odds & Picks on the Dallas Stars vs. Vancouver Canucks Friday night matchup. The Canucks are -201 home favorites. The over/under is 5. Dave likes the home team in this one. In net tonight? We don’t know. Roberto Luongo is 2-0-0 in his last two starts and a 0.98 goals against average in those games after a mini slump while Cory Schneider has gone 12-1-1 in his last 14 starts.
Free NHL Betting Odds & Picks on the Dallas Stars vs. Vancouver Canucks Friday night matchup. The Canucks are -154 home favorites. The over/under is 5. Dave likes the home team in this one. The Canucks have been winning but winning ugly. Their last two wins have been by 1-0 scores. Roberto Luongo got the night off on Wednesday and Cory Schneider filled in admirably. Luongo should be back in goal today.
