NHL Hockey Free Predictions: Senators vs Penguins – Game Five
Hockey Gambling fans sure are getting their money’s worth from the free nhl picks we give out here at Capperspicks.com.
Team Records:
Ottawa: 44-32-6
Pittsburgh: 47-28-7
Tonight, 7:00 p.m. ET
Sportsbook odds:
Senators +245
Penguins -290
Sens vs. Penguins Preview – PIT LEADS SERIES 3 – 1
It’s safe to say the floodgates are open.
I’m hoping you’ve taken my advice over the last two games of the Senators/Penguins series? The Senators did well to claw their way into the playoffs but they seem in way over their heads against the defending Cup champs, whose victory margin is growing by the game.
That said, these fantastic playoffs have taught us to expect the unexpected in many cases.
Does that mean Ottawa has a shot to stay alive on the road?
Game 4 was absolutely the most telling game of the series so far. First off, we saw the difference between Ottawa and Pittsburgh’s star power. Even though the Sens’ scorers, Daniel Alfredsson and Jason Spezza, finally found the net, they were no match for Pittsburgh’s big guns. Sidney Crosby had four points and now has an amazing 11 in just four games so far in these playoffs.
Even Evgeni Malkin has a quiet four tallies in four games.
Secondly, we saw that Ottawa just doesn’t have the goaltending for a deep playoff run. Brian Elliott has now allowed four goals in three of the four games in this series and has an ugly .863 save percentage in the series.
He’s not a bad netminder by any means but, simply put, he should be a backup goalie. As a starter, he’s below-average and that isn’t good enough against a potent attack like Pittsburgh’s.
If I’m Cory Clouston, I definitely take a flier on Pascal Leclaire, who has much more natural ability than Elliott.
Lastly, Game 4 confirmed Pittsburgh’s huge advantage in poise and experience. It didn’t matter that Crosby and company were playing a second straight road game against a desperate team.
They still routed the Sens and showed how much mental toughness they’ve developed during their deep playoff runs over the last two seasons.
Can we really expect Ottawa to show similar resolve tonight at Mellon Arena? The Pens smell blood and will play at home against a reeling club lacking confidence right now.
If the Sens were going to step up and outwork the Pens – especially on the penalty kill – we should’ve seen that happen in Game 4.
It’ll be too high a mountain to climb on the road against the Cup champs tonight.
NHL Betting Trends:
Ottawa is 15-6 SU in its last 21 games when playing on the road against Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Ottawa’s last 7 games
The total has gone OVER in 8 of Ottawa’s last 11 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Ottawa’s last 7 games when playing Pittsburgh
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Pittsburgh’s last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Pittsburgh’s last 5 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Pittsburgh’s last 7 games when playing Ottawa
NHL Playoff Betting – Senators vs Penguins Game 5 Pick
Pick Pittsburgh to close out the series.
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