This is a 10* TOTAL OF THE MONTH on the UNDER Pens/Rangers.

I'm a contrarian at heart, and this one absoultely sets up for a contrarian play here I think.

Scoring may be down in the NBA playoffs and in Major League Baseball, but scoring is UP in the NHL playoffs.

And certainly for these two really defensive minded clubs.

So far all four games in this series have flown OVER the posted number. That includes in the Penguins 7-2 win in Game 4 to take a 3-1 series lead.

New York was favored to win this series, but now the Rangers are on the cusp of elimination.

During the regular season the Rangers averaged 3.05 goals per game, which was ranked 17th, but they allowed just 2.49, which was ranked second.

And during the regular season the Penguins averaged 3.28 goals per game, ranked 11th, while allowing 2.71, which is ranked fifth.

Two pretty mediocre offenses, and two Top 5 defenses. But as we've seen, so far the first four games have been anything but low-scoring.

But that's where the contrarian in me kicks into gear here now for Game 5.

The Rangers have actually seen the total go UNDER the number in eight of their last 11 in trying to revenge a three goals or greater road loss against an opponent.

For Game 5 I'm predicting a much tighter and competitive game, but one that finally falls well UNDER the posted number.

Good luck, NP