Not only are the Wings playing their first game back home from the West Coast, which can often be challenging, but they’re facing a talented and “revenge-minded” San Jose team. I call the Sharks “revenge-minded,” as the Wings just beat them at San Jose, last week. Note that the Wings are a money-burning 9-15 (-17.2) the last 24 times that they’d played their previous three games on the road.

The Sharks, who lost 3-1 at Montreal on Saturday, are 6-1 the last seven times and an outstanding 26-10 (+6.8) the last 36 times that they were off a loss by two or more goals. During that stretch, the Sharks were also 51-28 when playing with ‘revenge.’ Consider backing the underdog.

Flyers are 7-1 in their last 8 overall.
Flyers are 7-1 in their last 8 vs. Eastern Conference.
Flyers are 6-1 in their last 7 games playing on 1 days rest.
Flyers are 5-1 in their last 6 when their opponent scores 2 goals or less in their previous game.
Flyers are 5-1 in their last 6 games following a win.
Flyers are 5-1 in their last 6 vs. a team with a losing record.
Flyers are 21-7 in their last 28 home games.
Flyers are 20-7 in their last 27 games as a home favorite.
Flyers are 5-2 in their last 7 after allowing 2 goals or less in their previous game.
Flyers are 12-5 in their last 17 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.

Canadiens are 18-37 in their last 55 when their opponent allows 2 goals or less in their previous game.
Canadiens are 9-19 in their last 28 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.

>Germany, on the other hand, hardly belived much in making it to the final but came very close to upsetting the mighty Russians, so they too will be in a disappointed mood going into this match here.

But comparing the two defeats, it is definitely “Tre Kronor” who have the longest way to go when it comes to shaking off the bitter semi final disappointments.

It doesn’t have to influence this game much, though, but at the very least is a factor well worth taking in mind.

Another is home advantage, which is Germany’s – and their crowd have indeed provided them with an awesome support so far.

A third is how Germany’s style of play is. Very “anti-hockey” if I may say so. It takes a lot of patience to get somewhere against this team, and can we really expect the Swedes to display such patience here..? I really doubt it.

Also, for a powerhouse of hockey like Sweden undoubtedly are, only gold medals are counted so it will hardly make much difference whether they finish 3rd or 4th – from the general public’s perspective, and probably from the players’ too, although, naturally, – as sportsmen – they’ll take any medals they can get.

But for the Germans, winning the bronze will be considered a fantastic achievement and I am convinced we will see a 100% commited performance from them here.

I think they’ll keep doing what they’ve so successfully done so far in the tournament and the Swedes are likely very prone to frustration right now, so medals to the hosts simply ca not be ruled out and – at the odds we are offered – going with them can’t be a bad idea.

Pick: H ot, Odds: 3.89, Stake: 5, Bookmaker: Pinnacle

No surprise in west, best teams after regular season plays the conference final. A little surprise is scor after 3 games, Chicago lead 3-0. After 2 wins in san jose, Chicago won in ot game nr 3. Great offence, strong defence, great goaltending and nice play from cheking line were ingredients for chicago in game 3. No missing and Niemi will be dressed for sure again in net. Sharks has nothing to lose anymore. They did not play bad but Chicago was great in all games. Heatley and Thornton didn’t score in this serie so far but for surely have quality to start scoring. Nabukov will be dressed in net. I expect attitude from the sharks and not to lose 0-4 at general

On the other hand,Philadelphia Flyers is also a great surprise of this play off. Participation in play off Flyers won in the final game of the regular season against a direct rival NY Rangers and that was after penalty shoot out. And now they are struggling to participate in a final.
The first oponent in play off was New Jersey, who was one of the major favorites for the title, and it was very easy 4-1 win for Philadelphia, and then an amazing series against the Boston Bruins who finished 4-3 in the favor of Philadelphia. Boston elimination by Philadelphia is not so strange because Boston the regular season were finished sixth in the East, meaning just above Philadelphia. But it was a miraculous, way in which the Flyers were able to come to final. They were down 0-3 in a series against Boston, but came to 3-3 and then in the seventh game in Boston they were three goals in deficit (0-3), but they won the match 4-3. That success seems to gave them wings, so they continued in the same rhythm and easily won the first two games against Montreal Canadiens. But now is totally different story. Result is 2-1, followed by another match in Canada. My opinion is that if Philadelphia wants to qualify for the big final,they will have to win on their ice in the fifth and seventh game, while in the ice of Montreal seems to me that they are without any chances for a favorable result.

The odds found on Betfair: 2.22
10/10 on Montreal Canadiens at 2.30 with Expekt (Fixed Odds)

But things will be more serious now, it’s semifinal game, and Germany know that in open game against Russia is fast loss..

So they will try to play hard defense and search their chances in counter attacks..

Because stop players like: Kovalchuk, Datsyuk, Ovechkin is really hard for team like Germany.. and only their chance is to play like against Switzerland.. So I expect here very defensive minded Germany who will do close all doors to their net and make big trouble for Russians…

So I decided to take under here, but still confident that Russia will win here with not big margin of goals..

 Pick : Under 5.5

Russia – Canada
Pick:Russia(-1.5)
Odds:2.01 @Pinnacle

Russia is perhaps the best team at this tournament and is considered by accidental bookies the favorite to win gold medals.
Ever won all their 5 matches: (Slovakia 3-1, Belarus 3-1, Germany 3-2;
Finland 6-1 and Denmark 5-0), no problem outplayed their opponents.
With each successive game rises Russian revolutions and squashing their opponents.
In the team showing the names of stars from NHL: Ovechkin, Malkin, Kovalchuk,
Gonchar, Datsuk etc. which indicates the class of the Russian team.
Probably a little tired after a long season in the NHL, but now face in quarterfinal Canada,teams that lost 3-7 to the Winter Olympics.
Until now, Canada with his presentation did not show anything special – 2 wins and 3 losses in the group .
They think more leisurely than to strain in this World Championship.

So now it’s time for revenge, Russia will leave the marginal incentive to win and I think it will do so explicitly.

GL

Maximum stakes for sure. GL!

Why?
* Yes Canada should be favorite, but these odds are ridicolous. I think 3,20 for Czech win should be fair.
* Canada showed some weak games in this torunament, they were (senastionally) beaten 1:4 by Switzerland and lost 1:3 to Sweden. Both time Canada were favorites, both time they failed.
* Czech were not convincing in all games and were also beaten by Switzerland, but their 2:3 was more narrowly
* Canada is surely a great ice hockey nation, but they have a young team this year which lacks experience
* H2H in the last 9 games shows no favorites: 3-3-3 (after 60 minutes)

GL

Czechs delivered a must 3-1 win against Latvia yesterday,but it was after torturing performance.The main problem was executing chances even though there very plenty of them.Today, they are in a must win situation against Canadians to get the fourth qualifying place secured.However, this might be too difficult task.Czechs get too much penalty time and even though they kill penalties well and even score shorthanded goals (two against Latvia yesterday) they will face the best power play tam today.Also Czechs do not convince in the defensive role, leaving way too much space and actually loosing a lot of pucks by the boards.

Their main strength is in the first line with Jaromir Jagr who creates good scoring chances.

Canada had a really bad match against Sweden,looked slow and lazy on the ice.They are not know for having two bad matches in a row and I dont see this changing in today.Canada has a big motivation ahead of them as they would like to avoid facing Russia in the quartefinals,so win for them here is significant.They will count on their first line where Stamkos should start after missing two games.There is also power from best scorer Tavares and passing game from Perry.Canada is playing with rather young and inexperienced team here but they have great skating and still a lot of individual quality.

A must match for the Czechs which have had a bad tournament, playing poorly in every match.Now they will face young skilled team that will be highly determined to make up for their previous loss against Sweden and also secure win to avoid powerful Russians in the quarters.

Czechs are missing the depth here,simple do not have the quality to skate all night with the rested Canadians – as Czechs played last night,this will surely show at one point of the game.So when I consider these factors it is just hard to believe that Czechs could get away with a win.However,Czechs are known for playing well against Canada and might hang in the match if they can avoid the fatigue so I will take the benefit of Canadian OT win.4-3 for Canada.GL

 Pick : Canada including OT