posted April 24, 2008 at 14:46 in NHL Articles

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

Season Series: NYR 5-3

It’s the Old versus the New as the storied veterans of New York take on the blazing, young guns of Pittsburgh. The Rangers got the edge in the regular season, but none of that will mean anything if they can’t pull out a seven-game series victory to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals.

Offensively, there is no doubt that the Penguins hold a decisive edge over New York. The Rangers averaged only 2.60 goals in the regular season, compared to the 3.01 pucks that lit the lamp for Pittsburgh. And I say “only” for New York because they have such an astounding number veteran play makers and goal scorers.

Jaromir Jagr and Scott Gomez lead the way for New York, and both are heady playmakers that can throw opponents against the wall with brute force. Say what you will about their offense, but they did just drop 3.8 goals per game against the defensively sound Devils and Martin Brodeur. Do you think Ryan Whitney and Marc Andre-Fleury will present a similar challenge? The answer to that, hockey bettors, is an emphatic “no”.

Pittsburgh had a cake walk against Ottawa in the first round. Without a fully healthy squad, the Sens posted no serious threat and Pittsburgh beat the puckline in ever game en route to a sweep. You can bet that New York will give them more to think about in terms of offense.

Pittsburgh averaged 4.0 goals per game against a hapless Ottawa defense. Now they face Vezina finalist Henrik Lundqvist, and the Rangers fifth ranked defense (2.4 goals against). It’s not that Pittsburgh doesn’t have the scoring potential. It’s more that New York has the size to beat the living hell out of Pittsburgh in the physical matchup and ring their figurative bells.

On top of that, Pittsburgh proved vulnerable to teams that could pepper their net with shots. They allowed 30+ shots per game, while New York averaged 31.45 shots per game. That could mean trouble for Fleury, who is not an elite goal tender by any stretch of the imagination.

With the Rangers dominating offensive front, their overall size, their superior goal tending, and their veteran leadership, they will be a tough team for Pittsburgh to overcome. Yet, betting against Pittsburgh isn’t as easy as you might think. That offense can erupt at any given moment, and if Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin have done anything right this season, it’s rewarding their betting faithful.

BetUS.com Furious Prediction – NYR in 6

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

Season Series: Mon 4-0

Philadelphia did Montreal two favors by beating the Capitals in a seven-game thriller. First, they gave Montreal a chance to avoid New York, a team they do not match up well against. Second, they seeded Montreal themselves. Montreal is 8-2 SU in the last 10 meetings with Philadelphia. If Philly was feeling nervous against Washington and Ovechkin, imagine how they feel running in to a team that has given them fits for the past two seasons.

Of course, we said the same thing about Boston and Montreal and that series went to seven. Yet the trends favor Montreal heavily. They are 7-1 SU in their last 8 home games, and they have home-ice advantage. On top of that, they’re 5-0 SU in their last five games against Philly, and are 5-1 SU in their last 6 home stands against the Flyers. Top all that off with Montreal number-one ranked offense (3.20 goals per game), and this is a veritable disaster for Philadelphia.

Under no circumstances am I willing to anoint the Canadiens the Eastern Conference Champions. But getting Philadelphia and Boston in the first two rounds of the playoffs is a God send to their betting faithful.

One x-factor that could make or break Philadelphia for this is Daniel Briere. The Montreal native declined a lucrative offer to play for his home town team and signed a long-term deal in Philly instead. Not that I blame him, but the fans are gong to remind him who they think he should’ve signed with. Briere finished the regular season with 31 goals and 41 helpers, and already has 11 points in the post season. Either he turtles in the face of the home town hatred, or he thrives and Montreal suffers because of it.

Either way, more cop cars are going to burn and roll in the streets of Montreal when it’s all said and done.

BetUS.com Furious Prediction – Montreal in 5

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