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Game 1 Montreal Canadiens vs. Pittsburgh Penguins NHL Picks / Preview

Tonight some great Stanley Cup Playoff hockey games on tap for your NHL hockey betting action. We preview and pick the Game 1 Montreal Canadiens vs. Pittsburgh Penguins conference semi-final matchup, odds currently have the Penguins listed as 270-moneyline favorites in this game. Get your NHL gambling picks here at Capperspicks.com.

NHL Hockey Free Predictions: Canadiens vs Penguins – Game One

Hockey Gambling fans sure are getting their money’s worth from the free nhl picks we give out here at Capperspicks.com.

Team Records:

Montreal: 39-33-10
Pittsburgh: 47-28-7

Series Is Tied 0-0

Sportsbook odds:
Canadiens: +250 +1.5 (-115) Over 5.5 (-120)
Penguins: -300 -1.5 (-105) Under 5.5 (even)

Canadiens vs. Penguins Preview

Bring on Round 2! The Montreal Canadiens get no rest. 48 hours after travelling to Washington to upset the Caps in Game 7, the Habs now have to go into Pittsburgh to face an equally dangerous team.

It is almost a miracle that the Canadiens are in the second round while it is no fluke that the Pens are in this position.

The Montreal Canadiens get full marks for their series victory over Washington. They got timely scoring from their best offensive weapons Mike Cammalleri and Thomas Plekanec, they got incredible leadership with Scott Gomez and Brian Gionta, good defense from Hal Gill, terrific goaltending and an epic coaching job.

The stars aligned for the Habs – to that there is no doubt.

Friday night, they are in Pittsburgh for Game 1, undoubtedly tired from their seven game first round series. The forwards will be tired, the defense will be tired, but Halak will be superb again. What did you expect me to say – Halak’s gonna struggle? All signs are pointing to a Game 1 write-off for the Montreal Canadiens.

The two-time defending Eastern Conference got all they wanted after round 1.

They got the series win and then watched Washington and New Jersey (who each swept the season series against the Penguins) get eliminated. The path to the final was made a whole lot easier after Round 1!

Pittsburgh were 25-12-4 on home ice this season. They have Crosby who is on a tear right now, Evgeni Malkin who ever-so-quietly put up eight points in the last series and Sergei Gonchar who is a man possessed on defense.

Unfortunately they have a cold goaltender. Marc-Andre Fleury was terrible in Round 1 with a 2.75 goals against average and an .890 save percentage.

The team was an awful 68.2% on the penalty kill – something that Coach Dan Blysma and crew have worked on I am sure.

Pittsburgh is a team that knows how to win. They have been there before. It’s all business for the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Expect a good effort from the Canadiens but it won’t be enough to slow down the unquestioned favourites to emerge out of the Eastern Conference.

NHL Betting Trends:

Montreal is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games when playing Pittsburgh
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Pittsburgh’s last 7 games
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Pittsburgh’s last 6 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Montreal’s last 10 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Montreal’s last 9 games when playing on the road against Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing Montreal
Pittsburgh is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games

Pick: Pittsburgh Penguins

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By DaveB

Dave B has been a Fantasy Football writer for us for 10 years. A couch potato wannabe, Dave’s insights have been read by 10’s of people for years. He hope’s for world peace + global relaxation. Enjoy and remember only smoke things that are completely natural.