posted January 5, 2009 at 14:45 EST in NHL Free Picks
NHL Sports Betting Penguins @ Rangers
by Robby Maddux
Monday's NHL online betting card features only two games, which will be overlooked by a majority of sports betting fanatics taking in the Fiesta Bowl, but to dismiss the matchup between visiting Pittsburgh and Rangers could prove costly because lurking is your potential money-making selection. A pick holding strength worth playing as a straight wager or adding to your Fiesta Bowl tickets to become a parlay.
Pittsburgh Penguins (19-16-4) at New York Rangers (23-14-3)
These Atlantic foes take the ice as slumping clubs. The Rangers, having dropped four of their past five games, struggles are coming primarily from between the pipes. New York's franchise goaltender Henrik Lundqvist went 1-2-1 with a 4.01 GAA in his last four 2008 starts before being sidelined for Saturday’s tilt at Washington with flu-like symptoms. Since Dec. 20, the Rangers have gone 1-3-1, and the typically rock-solid Lundqvist has been anything but solid during the span.
It’s undetermined if Lundqvist will be healthy enough to start Monday, but the Penguins would certainly prefer to face his backup Stephen Valiquette, who was handed the 2-1 loss at Washington despite stopping 29 of 31 shots. Lundqvist is 8-4-0 with a 1.81 GAA in his last 12 regular-season starts against the Pens.
—Rangers are 4-1 in their last 5 Monday games.
—Rangers are 4-0 in their last 4 vs. a team with a losing record.
—Rangers are 7-3 in their last 10 vs. Atlantic.
—Rangers are 2-5 in their last 7 when their opponent scores 2 goals or less in their previous game.
Pittsburgh will be looking to avoid a fifth straight loss, as they’ve failed to earn a point in four straight games, putting them one game from dropping five consecutive games in regulation play for the first time since losing ten straight in January 2006 which was captain Sidney Crosby’s rookie year.
The reeling Pens have lost ten of its last 14 and five consecutive at home. As well, the 6-1 loss on Saturday to Florida, who had dropped its previous four heading into Pittsburgh, was the Pens worst home loss in two years. Pittsburgh is 15-37-2 in their last 54 games following a home loss of 3 or more goals, something to keep in mind if you're planning to bet on NHL play this evening. To put the Pens sour playing into perspective, Crosby is dropping the gloves to release frustration.
In the spanking delivered by Florida on Saturday, the former Hart Trophy winner engaged in just the second fight of his career as he went to blows with Panthers' Brett McLean, earning 19 minutes in penalties for fighting, unsportsmanlike conduct and an instigator.
Pittsburgh has scored eight goals in its last six games - one from Crosby and none from NHL points leader Evgeni Malkin, who has just two assists in his last six contests.
This will be the fourth consecutive regular-season meeting between the teams that’s taken place at the Garden, resulting in all post-regulation Ranger victories. Crosby has a goal and an assist in those games, while Malkin’s been held to one assist. Pittsburgh goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury, who was pulled Saturday after allowing three goals on 12 shots, is 2-5-3 with a 3.52 GAA in ten career starts in New York against the Rangers.
—Penguins are 24-11 in their last 35 vs. Atlantic.
—Penguins are 1-4 in their last 5 when their opponent scores 2 goals or less in their previous game.
—Penguins are 0-4 in their last 4 vs. Eastern Conference.
—Penguins are 0-4 in their last 4 after scoring 2 goals or less in their previous game.
BetUS NHL odds list New York the money line favorites at -130 with a game total of 5½ under -120. The Rangers are 9-4 in their last 13 games as a favorite of -110 to -150, and when favored at the same price at home, they're 28-12 in their last 40. 'Total' players should know the under is 4-1-1 in the last six contests between the two.
Analysis: Things are going bad for the Pens, very bad. Pittsburgh is 1-8 in their last nine trips to the Garden, making an unlikely place for Crosby and company to begin a turn around. The favorite is 20-7 in the last 27 meetings with the home team being 37-17-1 in the last 55 series matchups. That's two edges pointing to New York. And it's hard to overlook the Pens are a stagnant 1-9 in their last ten games playing on 1 days rest. They are already in a slump and a 1-6 mark in their last seven versus teams over .500 doesn't bode well for Pittsburgh.
Free NHL Picks: Rangers -130 (7:00pm EST).
