Ducks, 'Canes Still in the Chase for the NHL Playoffs

Frank Doyle looks at some matchups from the final weekend of the NHL regular season as the playoff chase goes down to the wire, and a rare win against the fun police in the Bell Centre on Tuesday.

One of the great things about the NHL is how long the regular season stays live. Not only are the Anaheim Ducks going into their final two games against the LA Kings hoping to join the Kings in the playoffs, but they can claim home ice with the fourth seed if things fall the Ducks’ way.

Of course, the current holders of that fourth seed are the Kings themselves, and they will be unwilling to relinquish the home ice of the Staples Center in the first round of the playoffs out of pure neighborliness. The trick to that this weekend will be defending the Ducks’ Corey Perry, who’s only the league’s hottest scorer with fifty goals.

The Ducks are favorites on home ice tonight in NHL betting and that’s the correct bet. The Ducks are hotter and the Kings know they’re safe. That will make a difference.

Also in the West, there’s an intriguing series between Central Champions Detroit and the visiting Stanley Cup Champion Blackhawks. Chicago is a good bet at the Joe Louis Arena tonight – the Blackhawks have won four straight at Detroit and, with Red Wing center Henrick Zetterberg getting injured against Carolina, Detroit will have no interest in anyone else getting clobbered before the playoffs.

Besides. Detroit might get to meet Chicago again in the playoffs and they know that series will count more for their purposes.

Carolina’s chase for the final playoff position in the East continues tonight at Atlanta. Carolina is two points behind the Rangers and if the Hurricanes can win their last two games in regulation they’re in.

Carolina is a road favorite tonight in on the NHL hockey lines at Atlanta, the theory being that Carolina is playing to not have to shave for the next few weeks while Atlanta’s race is run. Only thing is, the reason the Rangers are within catching distance for the ‘Canes is because the Blueshirts got mangled by Thrashers last night on New York’s ice. There are no gimmes in the NHL.

AND FINALLY – you may have seen a story about Blackhawks backup goalie Marty Turco betting with a fan in the Bell Centre when Chicago played Montreal. There is some harrumphing from on high in the League but it looks like common sense has prevailed. Turco’s a good guy and he’s given a Habs season ticket holder a story to dine out on for the rest of his life. The fun police are everywhere as it is. Good to see them not win this one.