Rangers vs Penguins Hockey Odds
The Pittsburgh Penguins and New York Rangers will face off in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. The series begins on Friday at the Consol Energy Center in Pennsylvania on Friday.
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Eastern Conference semifinal Game 1
New York Rangers (4-3) at Pittsburgh Penguins (4-2)
Date: Friday, May 2, 2014
Time: 7:00 PM ET
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Venue: Consol Energy Center
City: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
O/U Odds: 5
Money Line: Pittsburgh -135, New York +123
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The Penguins dispatched of the Blue Jackets in six games in the opening round, while the Rangers are flying high off a big Game 7 win on their home ice to get past the Flyers.
The teams met four times during the regular season, with each side taking two games apiece, and each side going 1-0-1 in their own building. There were plenty of goals in those meetings, and given the way Pittsburgh’s opening round series played out, that could be the case again in this one.
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The winning side in those four regular season meetings averaged 4.5 goals, with the over cashing in each time the teams met. In the opening round, the over was a combined 8-3-2 in these teams’ games in the opening round.
The Penguins scored no fewer than three goals in any of their games against the Blue Jackets, averaging 3.5 goals per contest. The problem was Marc-Andre Fleury was again shaky between the pipes, with the Penguins surrendering 3.0 goals per game over the course of the series.
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The Rangers will need an uptick in production from star forward Rick Nash if they hope to keep pace, though his regular season performance against the Penguins would hardly inspire confidence. Nash played in three of those games and failed to record a point, posting a minus-3 rating, getting denied on each of his 19 shots on goal. In 2012-13, he scored just twice in five meetings.
Top center Brad Richards has fared better against the Penguins and will be called upon to keep up the strong play he gave the team in the first round. Richards is averaging a point per game against the Penguins over his past 17 games against them.
The Rangers are just 3-10 in the last 13 meetings between these teams, and 8-20 in their last 28 trips to Pittsburgh, but the playoffs are a whole different animal. With so much on the line in this one, and every play under the microscope, don’t be surprised to see the Rangers exploit the Penguins’ weaknesses and get off on the right foot in this one.
Additionally, goals have hardly been difficult to come by when these teams have meet, and Friday should be no different, particularly given the way the Penguins’ opening round series should play out. An explosion from Rick Nash is surely upcoming, and Friday could be the day.
The Rangers are 8-3 in their last 11 games played against Metropolitan Division opponents.
The over is 4-0 in the last four meetings between these teams, and 5-1 in the Penguins’ last six games overall.
The play: New York +123, Over 5
