Senators vs Penguins NHL Spread/Handicapping
The Ottawa Senators know that they will need to be much better in every aspect of the game to defeat the Pittsburgh Penguins on Friday night. They have to be more disciplined, they have to convert on absolutely every chance they get and most of all they have to return to the defense-first brand of hockey that got them into the playoffs in the first place.
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Ottawa Senators (29-19-2-4) vs. Pittsburgh Penguins (41-14-0-0)
When: 7:30 PM ET, Friday, May 17, 2013
Where: Consol Energy Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Broadcast: CBC, RDS, NBCSN
Penguins lead series 1-0
Sens vs. Pens Betting Lines from betonline.com
Ottawa Senators +1½ -175 +173 Ov 5½ +107
Pittsburgh Penguins -1½ +155 -191 Un 5½ -118
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Senators Look to Even Series Versus Penguins Friday Night
Sound easy? It won’t be. The Penguins look to be clicking on all cylinders and now that the goaltending situation looks to have stabilized for the time being, they look nearly unstoppable.
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The Ottawa Senators fell into a fatal trap in Game 1 against the Penguins – they took penalties and paid the price just like the Islanders did in Game 1. Ottawa had the best PK in the NHL during the regular season but there seems to be no stopping Pittsburgh’s power play in the playoffs.
One goal simply isn’t going to get it done versus the best offense in the league and that’s all Ottawa was able to muster in Game 1. They generated 36 shots on goal and created their fair share of scoring chances, but specialty teams did the Senators in – they allowed a pair of power-play goals to the Penguins, then a shorthanded goal in the third period by Pascal Dupuis during a critical stretch when they could have rallied to within one.
Before the series started we knew that Craig Anderson would have to steal a game or two or three but that didn’t happen Tuesday. Anderson allowed four goals in the final three games against Montreal but Anderson allowed three goals in a little less than 39 minutes in Game 1. [ad-4437448]
It appears to be all systems go for the Penguins! Evgeni Malkin (3-10-13), Jarome Iginla (2-8-10) and Dupuis (6-2-8) all extended their points streaks to seven games for the Penguins while Chris Kunitz scored his third power play goal of the postseason Tuesday. Pittsburgh power play in now clicking at a 33% rate in the postseason – incredible.
Perhaps the biggest and nicest surprise of the Penguins was the play of Tomas Vokoun, who allowed one goal on 36 shots and has allowed four goals in three starts since replacing Marc-Andre Fleury. He has a 1.28 goals-against average and .962 save percentage in three starts in the playoffs and has given the Penguins some confidence to be that freewheeling club that makes them so dangerous.
The stars seem to be aligning for the Penguins – that’s for sure!
Betting Prediction
A few trends to consider:
Under is 14-2-6 in OTT last 22 vs. Atlantic.
OTT are 6-2 in their last 8 road games.
Under is 35-14-11 in OTT last 60 overall.
Under is 8-2 in PIT last 10 vs. Northeast.
PIT are 40-12 in their last 52 home games.
PIT are 39-12 in their last 51 overall.
Over is 11-5 in the last 16 meetings.
Full marks to the Ottawa Senators for getting this far in the playoffs but at this point they appear to be totally overmatched by the Penguins. Pittsburgh is clicking 5-on-5, on the power play and now they are getting some goaltending. Pittsburgh is scary right now – it simply doesn’t look like they can be beat.
Pick: Pittsburgh Penguins -191
