NHL Hockey Free Predictions: Penguins vs Canadiens – Game Three
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Team Records:
Montreal: 39-33-10
Pittsburgh: 47-28-7
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Series Is Tied 1-1
Sportsbook odds:
Penguins: -160 -1.5 (+180) Over 5.5
Canadiens: +140 +1.5 (-220) Under 5.5
Canadiens vs. Penguins Preview
I don’t get it! For those of you that have been betting Montreal during these playoffs, congratulations. You must have a decent nest egg built up. The Montreal Canadiens won their fifth game of the post season, none of which many of the “experts” could have predicted.
Give the Canadiens’ coaching staff credit for developing an amazing game plan and to the players who have carried out their coaches plans to near perfection.
The Canadiens head home for Game 3 where the atmosphere will be positively nuts. The news isn’t all that good for Montreal however, the team is a miserable 1-7 in their last 8 games at home, the only win in the last few seasons coming in Game 6 against Washington.
Mike Cammalleri is looking like the best free agent signing in the NHL this year and with his two goals on Sunday, he now leads the NHL in post season goals. His play along with the leadership of Brian Gionta and Scott Gomez has the Habs believing that anything is possible going forward.
The Canadiens are not getting a ton of shots but they are confident in the fact that the few chances they get will result in scoring opportunities.
Jaroslav Halak was brutal in Game 1 but he recovered in a big way in Game 2 stopping 38 of the 39 shots directed his way. The addition of PK Subban on defense has been a revelation and he is a big reason that Halak was able to see almost every shot in Game 2.
The Pittsburgh Penguins have to be frustrated and disappointed in themselves. A close look at their play reveals the fact that they have nobody to blame but themselves. In Game 1 the Pens had success generating traffic in front of Halak and creating havoc in the process. Game 2 saw none of that traffic, one of that mayhem and none of that disruptive energy.
Sid the Kid was held pointless in Game two marking only the second time in the post season that this has happened. Malkin was invisible and the rest of the team was flat. The Pens did generate 39 shots but most were perimeter chances that had little or no chance of ending up in the back of the net.
Marc-Andre Fleury was just OK again and still does not look like the keeper that led the Pens to the Cup last year. He is going to have to right the ship soon or the Pens will have no chance of repeating.
Enthusiasm and momentum go a long way in playoff hockey but if I had to choose enthusiasm or experience, I would take experience.
The Penguins are blessed with a wealth of playoff experience. They also posess a roster that has a collective hockey sense that is the envy of the NHL.
Count on the Pens to make the necessary adjustments and take a 2-1 series lead on Tuesday night.
NHL Betting Trends:
Pittsburgh is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games on the road
Pittsburgh is 6-2 SU in its last 8 games when playing Montreal
Montreal is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Montreal’s last 5 games
Montreal is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games when playing at home against Pittsburgh
Montreal is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Pittsburgh’s last 6 games
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Pittsburgh’s last 6 games on the road
Pick: Pittsburgh Penguins
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