Kings vs Devils Pick
Devils look to stay alive in Game 5 Saturday night
The New Jersey Devils will continue on their quest to do something that only one team in history has been able to – rally from 3-0 down to win the Stanley Cup.
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Los Angeles Kings at New Jersey Devils
When: 8:00 PM ET, Saturday, June 9, 2012
Where: Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey
Broadcast: CBC, NBC, RDS
Kings lead series 3-1
Kings vs. Devils Betting Lines from betonline.com
Spread: Devils -1 ½ (+255)
Moneyline: Kings -102: Devils -108
Over/Under: 4 ½ goals
They finally broke through on Wednesday night and in the process moved the series back across country for Game 5 in the Cup Final. Was game 4 simply one last kick from a dying team or was it the confidence booster that the Devils needed to finally make that push for hockey’s ultimate prize?
The Los Angeles Kings are now 15-3 in the playoffs – we can certainly excuse them for a loss at home in Game 4. However, it was not poor play that lost them the game – it was attention to minute details that cost them. If there is one thing that we have all learned about Darrell Sutter’s squad in the postseason, it is that they are masters at making minor adjustments and at making up for the few tiny mistakes that they have made in the playoffs. The team has not lost two straight yet in the postseason and they are an unfathomable 10-0 away from home.
The Devils scored two goals on Jonathan Quick in Game 4 and added an empty netter – scoring barrage! One can’t fault Quick however – he is 15-3 with a 1.39 goals against average and a .948 save percentage in the playoffs so far.
The New Jersey Devils finally played their game in Game 4 and they were rewarded. A relentless forecheck pressured Los Angeles into some uncharacteristic mistakes and the anemic offense got three on the board. The offense has generated just four goals in the four games so far and the power play is 0 for 15 so far against the Kings. Both of these trends will have to change if this series is going beyond Saturday. [ad-4437448]
Adam Henrique scored on Wednesday – his third game winner of the playoffs so far and Ilya Kovalchuk finally scored (into an empty net) – both good signs for New Jersey heading into Saturday’s contest. Zach Parise appeared to injure his ankle in the game but insists he’s fine – he and Travis Zajac have yet to find the net in the series which is an ongoing concern.
Martin Brodeur continues to turn back the clock – Wednesday’s win was more to do with him than the offense that finally provided for him. Brodeur is 13-8 in the playoffs with a 2.04 goals against average and a .921 save percentage. There is no other keeper I would like to have in a pressure packed game!
Betting Prediction: The New Jersey Devils finally woke up and did what they needed to do in order to defeat the scorching Kings – creating pressure and getting to the front of the net to create second-chances opportunities was the difference. We finally saw Jersey’s speed and we finally saw a team getting Jonathan Quick moving side-to-side. From a betting perspective, you look to be safe with the Under again – all five have gone under the total. To pick a winner of the game is tough but I have a hunch that the Devils will show up and take this series back to Los Angeles. Confidence is a funny thing – I think that Jersey finally has a little – and that may be all it takes. LA’s 10 game road win streak has to come to an end sometime – why not Saturday?
Pick: The Under – 4 ½ goals for sure and the Devils -108 to extend the series
