Vegas Play of the Day: Chicago Blackhawks at Anaheim Ducks

By Case Keefer (contact)

Saturday, May 30, 2015 | 12:26 p.m.

The Play of the Day, which uses odds from the South Point and $10,000 starting bankrolls, looks to make (albeit minor) history tonight.

We’ve never hit back-to-back hockey games — mostly because we neglect the ice — but two game 7s in the conference finals left the perfect opportunity.

Anaheim Ducks minus-125 vs. Chicago Blackhawks: $650 to win $520

Don’t expect to read these words ever again, but I must admit to being inspired by Play of the Day competitor Taylor Bern. He cashed yesterday’s play on the eastern conference finals behind the simplest reasoning — taking what he felt was the better team.

So I’m going to do the same in the West. The only difference is my side’s not the underdog. But I’ve not once throughout these playoffs believed the Blackhawks were better than the Ducks.

Anaheim has played like the best team in the NHL, not losing a single game in regulation until Wednesday’s game 6. The Blackhawks were desperate at home, however, and getting their supreme effort was anticipated.

The problem is, they aren’t the most consistent team. Chicago has specifically labored to play well defensively for more than one game here and there over the entire playoffs.

The Ducks were a higher favorite than this in every other game in the series at the Honda Center, where they’ve outscored the Blackhawks by three goals. Getting the best team at a value price is the road to success. Bern knows.

Standings: Standings: Bern (80-71-1, $11,140), Keefer (81-80-2, $9,617), Brewer (70-83-3, $1,925)

Case Keefer can be reached at 948-2790 or [email protected]. Follow Case on Twitter at twitter.com/casekeefer.