NHL Playoff Odds: Detroit at Columbus

Pavel Datsyuk and the Red Wings take on the Blue Jackets in Columbus in game three of the series tonight. (AP Images)"]

A raucous capacity crowd is expected to energize the Columbus Blue Jackets in their first home playoff game ever tonight in Game 3 against the favored Detroit Red Wings.                        

The Red Wings hold a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven first-round Western Conference series. They have won twice by playing well, certainly, but also by pouncing on every little mistake the Blue Jackets have made. Half of the Wings' eight goals in the two games have gone in off a Columbus player.

The crowd figures to be very different from the first eight seasons when the Red Wings visited Columbus. For years, Wings fans have flooded south to watch their team. The Detroit fans were so loud, often it was hard to tell who the home team was.

If Columbus continues to take needless penalties they'll make things far more difficult for Steve Mason, who has played much better than the 8-1 goal differential would indicate.

For all your NHL playoff odds head to the Bodog Sportsbook.