posted May 26, 2008 at 17:15 in NHL Betting Trends
NHL Hockey Betting Playoff Picks – Pittsburgh Can and Will
Pittsburgh came out in Saturday’s sports betting Stanley Cup contest looking like a herd of sheep, with Detroit playing the part of Sheppard. They came out like a house of fire, and were stumped in consecutive power plays which snuffed their energy in a hurry. Now they find themselves down heading in to Game 2 as huge road dogs again.
Pittsburgh Penguins (47-27-8) vs. Detroit Red Wings (54-21-7)
Monday, May 26th --- Joe Louis Arena, Detroit --- 8:00pm EST
Series: Det 1-0
NHL Betting Line: Detroit -160
The problem, as always, is Detroit’s ridiculous 11-1 SU online betting record in home playoff games. They made Chris Osgood’s life easy by defending him like the Great Wall of China. The defense broke up any momentum Crosby and company tried to build, and deflated them with each goal that found the back of Pittsburgh’s net.
That’s the funny thing about seven game hockey betting series, though. Teams adjust and coaches figure out ways to break the backs of other teams. Sure, the Red Wings won’t trot out the same lines that they did in Game 1, but Pittsburgh isn’t going to come out that flat footed again. They know what’s on the line, and they have the talent to get what they want.
Pittsburgh is 12-3 SU in their last 15 games, though they remain 1-6 SU in their last 7 games when playing Detroit. The shutout notwithstanding, this is a Pittsburgh team that embarrassed everyone on the way to the Stanley Cup Finals. There’s no way they don’t come back tonight with a thirst for vengeance.
Detroit might bank on some production from the returning Johan Franzen, but I doubt that Franzen is at 100% and one big, bad hit and the reliable second line center is back on the IR. As Detroit waits and watches with Johan, Pittsburgh will be torching the lamp.
NHL Furious Free Picks: Pittsburgh +150 (OVER)
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