AAA Sports' FREE PLAY
(NHL) Anaheim vs. Chicago,
Money Line: -138.00 Chicago (Home)
Result: Win
This is a 1* Free Play on the Chicago Blackhawks.

I had a big play on the Blackhawks in Game 4 and then came back with the Ducks as a free pick in Game 5. If you didn't get a chance to see my analysis on Anaheim, I believe it's worth a quick read:

I played the Blackhawks in Game 4 and obviously feel pretty good about the win after Chicago fell apart late to let the Ducks back into it. Anaheim would take a 4-3 lead late in the third period with the second-fastest three goals in Stanley Cup Playoff history: "If you look at all four games [in this series] they've been all tremendous hockey games," Anaheim coach Bruce Boudreau said afterwards. "One has to lose, one has to win. Usually when one of the teams makes a mistake, a good team capitalizes on it. That's what happened. We had our chances again to win it, but it didn't happen. So we'll just regroup. Now it's a 2-out-of-3. Let's go after it." As Boudreau said, this has turned into a three-game series and remember, after the Blackhawks won 3-2 in Game 2 at the Honda Center, Anaheim would respond with a 2-1 win in Game 3: "I think we're right there," Cogliano said. "I don't think they overwhelmed us with too much. I thought we had our looks. They had the more power plays and they converted at the end of the game to tie it up. To score three goals when you're down 3-1 speaks to the team, and there is no hanging our heads. Obviously it is a bad feeling, but we've got to battle back." Note that Anaheim has been money in the bank in this spot all year as well, 25-9 (+13.2 units) after scoring four goals or more in its previous game, 19-9 (+9.3 units) after allowing four goals or more and 5-2 (+2.7 units) in its last seven when tied in a playoff series. The price is right, consider a second look at the DUCKS in Game 5.

What more can be said about these two teams at this point that hasn't literally been said a million times by all of the talking heads out there? If you're watching the NHL in late May and June, then you are more than just a casual fan and their strengths and weaknesses are well recorded. However, home ice advantage simply can't be overlooked in this case; also note that Chicago is already 2-0 (+2 units) when trailing in a playoff series this year and 14-7 (+2.9 units) after allowing four goals or more this season. A great situational play in my professional opinion, the price is right and the home side BLACKHAWKS are definitely worthy of a second look in this situation.

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