Posted on
4/11/2008 7:05:33 PM
NHL Playoff Picks 2008 – Rangers and Penguins Look Unstoppable
By Tim Furious
New York Rangers (42-27-13) vs. New Jersey Devils (46-29-7)
Friday, April 11th --- Prudential Center, New Jersey --- 7:00pm EST
NHL Betting Line: New Jersey -120
New Jersey is favored again?! What?? Sorry for the excessive punctuation but did the BetUS online sports betting oddsmakers even watch the 4-1 thrashing the Rangers gave the Devils on Wednesday? It was a completely unbalanced game, with New York’s vaunted offensive attack on full display. And the key to the Rangers’ success was one Scott Gomez, the prized acquisition of New York this past summer. Do you think the Devils missed him at all?
But Gomez wasn’t the only Devil defector that haunted his old team. Brendan Shanahan scored first, followed by Ryan Callahan and Sean Avery in the third-period. Gomez set up three of those goals with three assists to kill his former team. New York averaged 2.60 goals per game, but is designed for the playoffs. They have size, power and talent, not to mention the stiff goaltending of Henrik Lundqvist who dealt with the pathetic offense of New Jersey in the first game with what seemed like little effort.
Martin Brodeur looks frustrated, and to be honest, he hasn’t been the All-World talent he has usually been expected to be. With New York barreling in to the second matchup with tons of confidence, expect a dog fight in game two with the Rangers edging the spry Devils. Coaching goes a long way in covering up mistakes, and the Devils won’t get blown out, but they’ll have trouble keeping up with the Rangers offensive production.
NHL Betting Free Picks: New York +105 (UNDER)
Ottawa Senators (43-31-8) vs. Pittsburgh Penguins (47-27-8)
Friday, April 11th --- Mellon Arena, Pittsburgh --- 7:00pm EST
NHL Betting Line: Pittsburgh -240
Wow does Ottawa look bad. They weren’t looking good before the playoffs anyways, but the coaching staff obviously can’t overcome the loss of their two best two-way players in Daniel Alfredsson and Mike Fisher. Instead, Pittsburgh brought one of game’s best two-way players back off the shelf and used him to tool the Senators in the opener.
Welcome back, Gary Roberts! The iron man had two-goals in the opening game to steady the Pens to an exciting 4-0 shutout victory. Marc Andre-Fleury was strong in net for Pittsburgh, but Ottawa was having trouble getting pucks on net at all.
Ottawa will get some momentum back when they get back in to the confines of the Scotiabank Place, but for now, a rabid Pittsburgh fan base is going to remind them that they aren’t Stanley Cup worthy. And the Penguins will do their part in decimating this hapless team once more. If Senators fans hate the Leafs before, can you imagine how they feel now? Toronto’s still found a way to hurt Ottawa down the stretch in the playoffs, and they’re not even playing! Fantastic stuff.
NHL Betting Free Picks: Pittsburgh -240 (UNDER)
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