Vancouver Canucks vs. Atlanta Thrashers
Free NHL Pick: Atlanta Thrashers (+180 NHL Odds)
Thu December 10th 2009 10:05p
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The Atlanta Thrashers are off to a somewhat surprising 15-10-3 start, and have played very well on the road, where they are 9-4-1 to this point. The Thrashers are quite capable of upsetting the Vancouver Canucks here at a monster price.

Atlanta goaltender Johan Hedberg is hot right now, as he is 6-2 in his last eight starts, and he brings a nice 2.15 GAA and .933 save percentage into this game this evening. The Thrashers should also get a boost offensively with the return of Vancouver native Evander Kane, who missed the 3-1 loss in Calgary last night when he was under the weather, and he should be motivated playing in the city where he grew up.

As for Vancouver, this is their first home game back after an East Coast road trip, a situation where a lot of teams come up flat. The fact that they are beginning a season-high eight-game home stand tonight increases the likelihood of some lethargy in the first game, as the Canucks know they have plenty of time to get their skating legs back after their cross country trip.

It should also be noted that the Thrashers won the only meeting between these teams last season, and that was when the Atlanta defense was not playing as well as it is this year, especially on the road where Atlanta is allowing 2.71 goals per game. In fact, Hedberg is fifth in the NHL in GAA and second in the league in save percentage, behind only Ryan Miller of the Sabres.

All things considered, Atlanta looks like an overlay at this bloated price in this spot.

NHL Free Pick: Thrashers +180

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