Hockey betting expectations were sky high for the Chicago Blackhawks 2009-10 season among those who bet on hockey after their final 4 appearance last year. Hockey betting expectations were somewhat more reserved for the prospects of the St. Louis Blues by those that bet on hockey but that may quickly change.
The Blues made a significant hockey betting statement in their opening weekend trip to Europe as they swept the defending central division and western conference champion Detroit Red Wings to serve notice to people that like to bet on hockey that they are a legitimate threat to repeat as a playoff team, and perhaps much more!
The Blues scored a 4-3 hockey betting win in the opener and followed that up with another payoff for those who bet on hockey with them in a 5-3 win in the rematch. The Blues came back from 2-goal deficits in both games. Two veterans led the Blues hockey betting attack as left wings Paul Kariya and Keith Tkachuk each had 2 goals. Tkachuk earned a lot of respect in the two games for his willingness to sacrifice his body in front of the Detroit goal as he took a pounding but never relented. Both goaltenders Ty Conklin and Chris Mason looked solid as each scored a hockey betting win to start the year.
If there is one team in hockey betting that is considered ready to end the Detroit Red Wings dominance of the western conference it would be the Chicago Blackhawks. Last year the Hawks earned hockey betting respect by making the western conference finals before losing to Detroit but it was obvious to many observers that Chicago was the team with the better upside and future. Chicago lost a shootout to Florida in their hockey betting opener 3-4 but was strong in the rematch with a 4-0 win to end their European weekend on a high note as backup goaltender Antti Niemi earned the shutout in his homeland of Finland. Right winger Patrick Kane picked up where he left off last hockey betting season with 2 goals and 2 assists on the trip.
Chicago and St. Louis could be on a collision course for not just the central division hockey betting title but the western conference crown itself!