So I made my BetOnline.com wager and turned on the Canucks/Hawks game last night. Picked Chicago, of course. Midway through the third period…

BAM!

Willie Mitchell hops out of the box and brutalizes Jonathan Toews, goes Gambino Family on him. Massive hit but it was crisp and clean, so it was nice to see that Mitchell wasn’t indicted by the league and coaches. The BetOnline.com odds of that happening are usually pretty slim — seems every big hit these days is “dirty” in someone else’s mind.

All the big hits today show a weird trend; it used to be that only blatant cheap shots started big brawls. Now, any big hit gets you jumped by the other team and you end up with the post-whistle scrum you usually see in NFL betting after a fumble. What gives?

I long for the olden days — even 10 years ago — when the answer to a good clean hit was another good clean hit. I totally understand that teams have to respond in some way to show they can’t be pushed around — but why not answer hits with hits?

The Kentucky Derby odds and Pacquiao vs Hatton odds are upon us, so today is perhaps my last chance to steal your attention until then.

I “treated” you hockey betting fans to first-round Stanley Cup betting playoff predictions in Haiku. I shall now try to outdo myself with second round NHL playoff picks…in gangsta rap lyric form.

Here goes nothin, sportsbook playas…

Red Wings vs Ducks odds

FOR DA DUCKS ROUND ONE AIN’T ONE BIT OF LUCK

JONAS HILLER STOPPIN PUCKS LOOKIN GOOD AS F*CK

GETZLAF PERRY BUSTIN GOALS IN DA THROATS OF DEM SHARKS

THREW THOSE BIG FISH OUTTA WATER LIKE IT’S NOAH’S ARK

BUT WHAT’S THAT IN THE SKY? IT’S A BIRD, NAW, A PLANE

IT’S DEM RED WINGS SWOOPIN DOWN GONNA MAKE IT RAIN

DEM SWEDES AND RUSSIANS WINNING CUPS LIKE ITS OUTTA STYLE

GONNA HUNT DOWN THOSE DUCKS, POWWA PLAY RUNNIN WILD.

(NHL betting pick:: Red Wings in six)

Blackhawks vs Canucks odds

SH*T SON IT’S THE FLAMES LIGHTIN HAWKS ON FIRE

KHABIBULIN SEEING RUBBER LIKE A MICHELIN TIRE

BUT THE CHI-TOWN KIDS BROUGHT DA RUCKUS ON THE ROAD

CRAZY KILLAS ON DEFENSE GONNA SHOULDER THE LOAD

LIKE ALL EMPIRES THE HAWKS BETTA BRACE FOR A FALL

CUZ THEY ABOUT TO RUN INTO A GREASY BRICK WALL

VANCOUVA RIDES THE MASKED MAN BY THE NAME OF LUONGO

GAT ! GAT! GONNA GET THEM, PLAY THE KIDS LIKE BONGOS.

(NHL betting pick:Canucks in seven)

Stay tuned for round two of NHL playoff betting tomorrow. Word…and you thought only hoops betting folk could rhyme…