Warning: mysqli_query(): (HY000/1030): Got error 28 from storage engine in /home/sportsun/public_html/wp-includes/wp-db.php on line 1942

Game 7 in the Detroit/Phoenix series takes place tonight in Phoenix and win or lose there’s not been a better hockey story this year than the Phoenix Coyotes.  Last summer the only reason they were in the news was for their countless off ice and financial issues.  You’ll recall that there was even much to suggest that they’d be playing in Hamilton, Ontario and not Phoenix this season.  Despite all this and despite serious budgetary constraints the Phoenix management put a winning team on the ice.  Only three teams in the NHL finished with more points than Phoenix this season.  And that great season has proven to be extremely valuable, since they’ll host game 7 instead of playing on the road.  And that gives us the basis for our NHL betting position this evening:

PHOENIX COYOTES VS. DETROIT RED WINGS:

Despite their 107 points and despite splitting the first six games of this series, the Coyotes still aren’t getting much respect from the linesmaker.  The Wings are a -120 road favorite for game 7, and with all due respect to Detroit’s hockey tradition that’s a price that is hard to justify given the statistics.  Since 1939 there have been 129 playoff game 7’s in the NHL and the home team has a 80-49 record for a 62% winning clip.  First round series haven’t been quite as strong for the home team, with a 28-19 (59.6%) margin.  Still, that means that at +100–which obviously has a theoretical break even of 50%–you’re getting a nice overlay playing the Coyotes.

In a series that has been a toss up, its hard to find much of a matchup advantage in game 7.  Surprisingly, none of the games in the series have gone to overtime but that’s always a possibility in the NHL postseason.  If you’re going to play the game, there’s really no other way to do it than to go with the statistical strength of the home team in this situation and back the Coyotes.

PLAY PHOENIX +100 OVER DETROIT