Posted on
4/16/2008 3:50:58 PM
NHL Furious Playoff Picks 2008 – Rangers Roaring, Pens Sweeping
By Tim Furious
New Jersey Devils (46-29-7) vs. New York Rangers (42-27-13)
Wednesday, April 16th --- Madison Square Garden, NY --- 7:00pm EST
Series Record: NYR 2-1
NHL Betting Line: NYR -150
NHL online sports betting is heating up as the Devils gained a semblance of respect with a 4-3 victory over the Rangers on Sunday. But within the hostile confines of MSG, as road dogs, things look grim for the hockey betting favorite. Martin Brodeur and his Devils. The idea that “it doesn’t matter who is on the ice, as long as Martin Brodeur is in net, we can win” has been thrown out the window with a catapult (just ask Roberto Luongo). The Devils average just 2.51 goals per game, which isn’t enough to get it done against the offensively dominant Rangers.
I’ve been saying this time and again, but the Rangers are built for the playoffs. They have speed, precision, veteran leadership, an outstanding goalie who steadies them to 2.4 goals against per game, size and one annoying, little maggot in Sean Avery. Hate Avery all you want, but he gets the job done…and he scores. The best thing about the Rangers is that they allow only 25.9 shots against per game, and rally off 31.4 shots per game. Even a guy like Brodeur is going to crack under that kind of pressure.
New Jersey is exceptionally well coached, but coaching can only take you so far if you don’t have the roster to make it happen. They’re 13-18 as underdogs this year against the moneyline, so take the Rangers tonight.
NHL Betting Free Pick: NYR -150 (UNDER)
Pittsburgh Penguins (47-27-8) vs. Ottawa Senators (43-21-8)
Wednesday, April 16th --- Scotiabank Place, Ottawa --- 7:00pm EST
Series Record: Pitt 3-0
NHL Betting Line: Pittsburgh -175
I’m going to make this really simple: CRANK OUT THE BROOOOOOMS! My hatred of the Senators aside, the Senators are way out of their league. They’ve been outscored in the past three games 13-4 against Pittsburgh and are 1-7 SU in their past 8 games. With zero wins in their last 5 games at home, are you going to lose your betting dollars to them? I didn’t think so.
NHL Free Pick: Pittsburgh -175 (OVER)
Detroit Red Wings (54-21-7) vs. Nashville Predators (41-32-9)
Wednesday, April 16th --- Sommet Center, Nashville --- 9:00pm EST
Series Record: Det 2-1
NHL Betting Line: Detroit -145
Jason Arnott and Ryan Suter made it known that Nashville will not go quietly in to the night. They scored nine-seconds apart in the closing seconds of Game 3 to climb within reaching distance of Detroit. However, anyone dumb enough to say that Nashville is anywhere close to Detroit’s pedigree is ridiculous. Dan Ellis is a phenomenal goal tender, and will keep the Preds in this game, but Detroit will undoubtedly be thirsty for blood after dropping a single game to the Preds.
The Preds allow 2.79 goals against per game as a team, but Ellis has a personal goals against average of 3.05. I’m not going to get in to the excuses for why that is, but if you’ve watched Ellis play, he’s been standing on his head (a term in hockey for “beyond excellent goaltending”) against Detroit, but it’s hard to reason the Nashville will be able to stand a chance against a room of grizzled veterans on Detroit that are probably pissed they lost to Nashville at all. If I were Ellis, I’d be nervous as all hell tonight.
Hasek won’t forgive himself for allowing those two-goals to pass by and light the lamp in the third period. That’s why you can even bet o the puckline tonight. Nashville was lucky to win that game, and they know it. Expect Detroit to blow them out of the water tonight, and bet accordingly.
NHL Free Pick: Detroit -145 (UNDER)
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