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(NHL) Pittsburgh vs. Ottawa,
Money Line: 118.00 Ottawa (Home)
Result: Win
Money Line: 118.00 Ottawa (Home)
Result: Win
The set-up:The Pittsburgh Penguins' high-octane offense averaged an NHL-best 3.39 goals per game in the regular season but in two games against Ottawa, the Penguins have scored just one goal in each of the first two games and BOTH were played in Pittsburgh. Luckily for the Penguins, Kessel's third-period goal in Game 2 was enough to win, as Fleury was able to 'pitch' a 23-save shutout. The series now shifts to Ottawa, where the Senators have won three playoff games in a row, after dropping two of their first three games this postseason on home ice.
Pittsburgh: The Penguins' offensive woes haven't just begun this series, as they come into this contest having mustered just eight tallies in their last five games, which follows them having scored 35 goals in their first nine of the playoffs. Evgeni Malkin set up Kessel on Monday to increase his point total to an NHL-best 20 (six goals, 14 assists), joining Mario Lemieux as the only players in franchise history to reach that plateau on three occasions. Still, in not for Fleury, Pittsburgh would be down 0-2. He's sporting a scintillating .977 save percentage in his last three contests after his franchise-leading 10th career postseason shutout in Game 2.
Ottawa: The Senators' 1-3-1 defensive alignment is creating quite an obstacle in this conference final but Ottawa's offense was almost non-existent in Game 2. In fact, the Senators failed to record a shot on goal for 18:53 bridging the second and third periods! Ottawa could receive some welcome help as the series shifts to Canada's capital. Forward Viktor Stalberg and defenseman Mark Borowiecki, who coach Guy Boucher said "could be coming in at any moment." Stalberg has been sidelined since Game 6 of the second-round series versus the New York Rangers with an undisclosed injury while Borowiecki has been out since Game 2 of the first-round set against Boston with a lower-body ailment. Captain Erik Karlsson is playing with two hairline fractures in his foot, but the two-time Norris Trophy recipient still managed to record a team-high 26:59 of ice time in Game 2 and leads the team in scoring with 13 points (two goals / 11 assists).
The pick: Why not another one-goal game here? It was 2-1 (OT) for Ottawa in Game 1 and 1-0 Pittsburgh in Game 2. For Ottawa, the Senators have now played a one-goal game in 11 of their 14 postseason contests. Ottawa seems to be getting healthier (see above) plus Karlsson has been great playing through his injuries. Meanwhile, the injuries keep piling up for the Penguins. Pittsburgh just lost another top defensemen when Justin Schultz joined Kris Letang and Trevor Daley on the sidelines with a shoulder injury in Game 2. The Penguins could also be minus winger Bryan Rust, who also suffered an upper-body injury in Monday's 1-0 victory. Head coach Sullivan listed Rust and Patric Hornqvist, who missed Game 2, as day-to-day. Too many question marks for the struggling Penguins. Make Ottawa a 10* play.
Pittsburgh: The Penguins' offensive woes haven't just begun this series, as they come into this contest having mustered just eight tallies in their last five games, which follows them having scored 35 goals in their first nine of the playoffs. Evgeni Malkin set up Kessel on Monday to increase his point total to an NHL-best 20 (six goals, 14 assists), joining Mario Lemieux as the only players in franchise history to reach that plateau on three occasions. Still, in not for Fleury, Pittsburgh would be down 0-2. He's sporting a scintillating .977 save percentage in his last three contests after his franchise-leading 10th career postseason shutout in Game 2.
Ottawa: The Senators' 1-3-1 defensive alignment is creating quite an obstacle in this conference final but Ottawa's offense was almost non-existent in Game 2. In fact, the Senators failed to record a shot on goal for 18:53 bridging the second and third periods! Ottawa could receive some welcome help as the series shifts to Canada's capital. Forward Viktor Stalberg and defenseman Mark Borowiecki, who coach Guy Boucher said "could be coming in at any moment." Stalberg has been sidelined since Game 6 of the second-round series versus the New York Rangers with an undisclosed injury while Borowiecki has been out since Game 2 of the first-round set against Boston with a lower-body ailment. Captain Erik Karlsson is playing with two hairline fractures in his foot, but the two-time Norris Trophy recipient still managed to record a team-high 26:59 of ice time in Game 2 and leads the team in scoring with 13 points (two goals / 11 assists).
The pick: Why not another one-goal game here? It was 2-1 (OT) for Ottawa in Game 1 and 1-0 Pittsburgh in Game 2. For Ottawa, the Senators have now played a one-goal game in 11 of their 14 postseason contests. Ottawa seems to be getting healthier (see above) plus Karlsson has been great playing through his injuries. Meanwhile, the injuries keep piling up for the Penguins. Pittsburgh just lost another top defensemen when Justin Schultz joined Kris Letang and Trevor Daley on the sidelines with a shoulder injury in Game 2. The Penguins could also be minus winger Bryan Rust, who also suffered an upper-body injury in Monday's 1-0 victory. Head coach Sullivan listed Rust and Patric Hornqvist, who missed Game 2, as day-to-day. Too many question marks for the struggling Penguins. Make Ottawa a 10* play.