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posted May 2, 2008 at 18:30 in NHL Free Picks

Philadelphia Flyers (42-29-11) vs. Montreal Canadiens (47-25-10)

Saturday, May 3rd --- Bell Centre, Montreal --- 7:00pm EST

Series: Phi 3-1

NHL Betting Line: Montreal -170

Nothing in this series makes sense. Montreal is the better team on paper, they’re playing better, rifling off way more shots than Philadelphia, and now they’re down 3-1 in the series. Philadelphia rode Daniel Briere to a 4-2 victory that has put Montreal in serious trouble.

Blame the twenty-year old Carey Price if you must, because the kid deserves it. I don’t care if you’re twenty or forty-seven or twelve, if you’re in net you play better. Montreal has been generating offense and Price has not been able to cover up his own mistakes. He’s robbed Montreal of any momentum they try to build by allowing cheap goals that should never light the lamp.

It’s strange – nobody expected Montreal to get to the playoffs. And now that they’re here, we find it impossible that they’re going to lose to sixth seeded Philadelphia. The Flyers have averaged 3.5 goals per game this series, which certainly isn’t helping.

But I refuse to believe that hard work is not paid off. Not in hockey. Montréal will win this game tonight and push for a Game 6 (which is where I believe they’ll lose), but at home in front of a crowd that never gives up on their team until the final horn sounds, I just don’t see Montreal losing in the Bell Centre.

NHL Betting Picks: Montreal -170 (OVER)

New York Rangers (42-27-13) vs. Pittsburgh Penguins (47-27-8)

Sunday, May 4th --- Mellon Arena, Pittsburgh --- 2:00pm EST

Series: Pit 3-1

NHL Betting Line: NYR -145

The Rangers and Jaromir Jagr pulled back from the brink of elimination one last time, and we saw something very dangerous from the Penguins – immaturity. Sure, Sidney Crosby went to defend his teammates, but you don’t get in to a fist fight when you’re up by three games in enemy territory. How the Rangers got under the skin of the Penguins with Sean Avery out with a lacerated spleen is beyond me.

And tsk, tsk Evgeni Malkin. Giving Paul Mara the slew foot twice (ed. the slew foot is basically kicking somebody’s leg out from underneath him…it’s illegal too) is seriously low brow. Yes, the Rangers turn up the physicality when they’re losing, but the Penguins were the ones that showed no class while getting blasted 3-0 in Game 4.

Can they rally and become the team that they need to be to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals? Perhaps. But Jaromir Jagr is building steam at the perfect time, and the Penguins have to prove that they don’t’ get rattled too much by the mind games.

It’s enough for the Pittsburgh betting investor to vomit with confusion. This was the first Penguins first playoff loss all season, and it’ll be interesting to see how they respond. Until I see proof, especially after the temper tantrums they threw in Game 4, I’m not going to believe in them until I see the finesse and fast hockey that made them great.

NHL Betting Picks: NYR -145 (OVER)

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