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posted April 25, 2008 at 15:01 in NHL Free Picks

The Pittsburgh Penguins open second-round online hockey betting play at home on Friday against the New York Rangers after ripping the throats out of the Ottawa Senators in a best-of-seven series first-round sweep.

The Eastern Conference semi-finals showdown between the Pens and Rangers is a classic matchup of youth vs. experience. The Rangers have plenty of experience, which often prevails over youth, but smart money should be put on the Pens and young guns Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin in Friday's opener.

The Rangers won five of eight from Pittsburgh during the regular-season but 20-year-old Crosby and the 21-year-old Malkin, who are the best center combination in the NHL, will ousts New York with young talent that's unprecedented.

Crosby won the scoring title in '07 and Malkin came in second to Alex Ovechkin this season as scoring champion. In addition to offensive fire-power, there are many key NHL wagering trends pointing towards the Pens.

Before getting to the trends, keep in mind: Pittsburgh had 240 goals this season to the Rangers' 205, which is seventh-worst in the league. Now to trends supporting the Pens:

- Pens are 4-0 in their last 4 vs. Eastern Conference.

- Pens are 4-0 in their last 4 playoff games as a favorite.

- Pens are 4-0 in their last 4 vs. a team with a winning record.

- Rangers are 1-5 in the last 6 meetings in Pittsburgh.

- Favorite is 10-1 in the last 11 meetings.

- Home team is 17-5 in the last 22 meetings.

During the regular season, the Rangers were fifth in GAA, allowing 2.32 per game. However, New York's defenseman often commit turnovers and struggle to get the puck out of their own zone. Sloppy play by the Rangers versus Pittsburgh will lead to break away goals for the Pens.

In addition to Crosby and Malkin, the Pens have Sergei Gonchar, who was second among NHL defensemen in the regular season with 65 points, and Ryan Whitney.

Pittsburgh also has solid goaltending with Marc-André Fleury, who was sensational (.955 save percentage) in the Pens' sweep of the Sens.

The last time the Rangers faced the Pens in the playoffs in 1996, they were over taken by the future Hall of Fame duo of Mario Lemieux and Jaromir Jagr. In 2008, it will be the dynamic duo of Crosby and Malkin that overwhelms the Rangers.

BetUS NHL odds has tagged the Pens faves in Game 1 at -145, and based on Pittsburgh's dominance over the Sens, that's a bargain! It gets even better considering the Pens are 51-20 in their last 71 games as a favorite.

The favorites claimed 28 Round 1 contests and the underdogs won 19 of the 47, meanwhile, Round 2 started off with two chalk winners on Thursday. And, the NHL betting public investing in the favored Pens on Friday will cash again with chalk, Crosby and Malkin.

Analysis: Crosby and Malkin!

NHL Free Picks: Pittsburgh -145 (Game 1 - 7:05pm EST)

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