PREMIUM
Rogers' NHL TOTAL DOMINATION >> $11,596 Past 10 Days!
(NHL) Carolina vs. Pittsburgh,
Total: 5.50 | -110.00 Over
Result: Win
Total: 5.50 | -110.00 Over
Result: Win
The set-up: The Pittsburgh Penguins were pretty good in their first game back from a three-day break, getting goals from Evgeni Malkin (his 800th NHL point) and Sidney Crosby, who got his 25th goal in 30 games, plus Carl Hagelin, Justin Schultz and Bryan Rust while coming back from a 2-1 deficit early in the second period in a 5-2 win at New Jersey. They will now take their 23-8-5 record back home to face the holiday-rested Carolina Hurricanes, who are 15-11-7.
Carolina: The Hurricanes were on a mini-surge before Christmas, receiving balanced scoring while winning three in a row and four of five, with the only loss coming to Washington in a shootout Dec. 16. They beat the Buffalo Sabres and Boston Bruins on successive nights Thursday and Friday, with five different players combining for their six goals. We have a lot of different options in our attack," Jordan Staal said. "It's not the same guy every night ... we have a lot of different options." Despite occupying sixth place in the Metropolitan, Carolina has been the league's best team on the penalty kill. The Hurricanes entered Tuesday first overall with a 90.6 percent success rate while tying for second with five short-handed goals. Cam Ward will be in goal, entering with a 12-8-6 record, 2,24 GAA and .918 save percentage.
Pittsburgh: Carolina head coach Bill Peters isn't sure if being fresh is an advantage. Peters suggested that players often take some time getting their game legs back after a pause in the schedule, even one this short. That sure wasn't the case for the Penguins, as they returned to game speed in a hurry. They are now 10-1-2 during what so far is the best December in the franchise's 50-year history. Malkin and Crosby have 19 points each in the month and Schultz has 16. Pittsburgh goalie Marc-Andre Fleury played well last night making 21 saves as the Penguins swept the Devils in a two-game series that began Friday in Pittsburgh. However, it's likely goalie Matt Murray (13-3-1) will start Friday, as coach Mike Sullivan tries to keep both goalies sharp.
The pick: Speaking of penalty-kill units, the Penguins fended off six of seven Devils power plays last night, including a four-minute advantage during the third period resulting from defenseman Ian Cole's high-sticking double minor. Murray has been outstanding in goal (2.14 GAA and .928 save percentage) and I expect this to be a tight, low-scoring contest, making the Under an 8* play.
Carolina: The Hurricanes were on a mini-surge before Christmas, receiving balanced scoring while winning three in a row and four of five, with the only loss coming to Washington in a shootout Dec. 16. They beat the Buffalo Sabres and Boston Bruins on successive nights Thursday and Friday, with five different players combining for their six goals. We have a lot of different options in our attack," Jordan Staal said. "It's not the same guy every night ... we have a lot of different options." Despite occupying sixth place in the Metropolitan, Carolina has been the league's best team on the penalty kill. The Hurricanes entered Tuesday first overall with a 90.6 percent success rate while tying for second with five short-handed goals. Cam Ward will be in goal, entering with a 12-8-6 record, 2,24 GAA and .918 save percentage.
Pittsburgh: Carolina head coach Bill Peters isn't sure if being fresh is an advantage. Peters suggested that players often take some time getting their game legs back after a pause in the schedule, even one this short. That sure wasn't the case for the Penguins, as they returned to game speed in a hurry. They are now 10-1-2 during what so far is the best December in the franchise's 50-year history. Malkin and Crosby have 19 points each in the month and Schultz has 16. Pittsburgh goalie Marc-Andre Fleury played well last night making 21 saves as the Penguins swept the Devils in a two-game series that began Friday in Pittsburgh. However, it's likely goalie Matt Murray (13-3-1) will start Friday, as coach Mike Sullivan tries to keep both goalies sharp.
The pick: Speaking of penalty-kill units, the Penguins fended off six of seven Devils power plays last night, including a four-minute advantage during the third period resulting from defenseman Ian Cole's high-sticking double minor. Murray has been outstanding in goal (2.14 GAA and .928 save percentage) and I expect this to be a tight, low-scoring contest, making the Under an 8* play.
