PREMIUM
Rogers' *10* SURE SHOT >> 70-50-3 Overall Past 24 Days!
(NHL) Pittsburgh vs. Washington,
Money Line: -143.00 Washington (Home)
Result: Loss
Money Line: -143.00 Washington (Home)
Result: Loss
The set-up: The Washington Caps are the two-time reigning President's Trophy winners and will meet the defending champion Pittsburgh Penguins in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs for the second straight year. Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby will resume their personal rivalry as well but Washington vs. Pittsburgh can hardly be called much of a rivalry, as it's been all Penguins. as their respective teams. Pittsburgh is 8-1 in playoff series vs Washington in playoff series, including winning both meetings during the Sidney Crosby-Alex Ovechkin era. Pittsburgh won in six games last year and in seven games back in 2009.
Pittsburgh: Evgeni Malkin had an NHL-best 11 points (two goals, nine assists) in the first round. Linemate Phil Kessel added eight points (two goals, six assists). Pittsburgh expects 'numbers' from its big names (Crosby had seven points Columbus) but rookie Jake Guentzel (NHL-best five goals) and third-year player Bryan Rust (four goals) also made their presence known in the first round. Pittsburgh enters the series minus defenseman Kris Letang, who is done for the season, and (for now) goaltender Matt Murray. Forward Carl Hagelin, who had three goals and seven points in last year's playoff series, has been out since March with a lower-body injury, but practiced Wednesday.
Washington: T.J. Oshie matched Ovechkin in goals this season with a club high-tying 33 and they both had three goals against Toronto, as Justin Williams and Tom Wilson. Defenseman Karl Alzner is questionable for the series opener after missing the last four games versus the Maple Leafs because of an upper-body injury. Pittsburgh's Marc-Andre Fleury stepped in for fellow G Matt Murray (lower body) prior to Game 1 versus the Blue Jackets and boasted a .933 save percentage in the first-round series. However, in three appearances against Washington this season, that SP was just .884. Let's not forget that Washington is 34-7-2 on home ice this season, outscoring opponents 3.20-to-1.68 GPG. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh's allowed 3.02 GPG on the road this year.
The pick: The Penguins finished second behind the Capitals in the Metropolitan Division by going 50-21-11 (111 points), while Washington finished 55-19-8 (118 points). This marks the first time since the 2001 Stanley Cup Final (Colorado Avalanche vs. New Jersey Devils) that the NHL's top-two teams from the regular season will meet in a playoff series. Isn't Washington overdue? At least for Game 1, the Caps get the best of the Pens. Make Washington a 10* play.
Pittsburgh: Evgeni Malkin had an NHL-best 11 points (two goals, nine assists) in the first round. Linemate Phil Kessel added eight points (two goals, six assists). Pittsburgh expects 'numbers' from its big names (Crosby had seven points Columbus) but rookie Jake Guentzel (NHL-best five goals) and third-year player Bryan Rust (four goals) also made their presence known in the first round. Pittsburgh enters the series minus defenseman Kris Letang, who is done for the season, and (for now) goaltender Matt Murray. Forward Carl Hagelin, who had three goals and seven points in last year's playoff series, has been out since March with a lower-body injury, but practiced Wednesday.
Washington: T.J. Oshie matched Ovechkin in goals this season with a club high-tying 33 and they both had three goals against Toronto, as Justin Williams and Tom Wilson. Defenseman Karl Alzner is questionable for the series opener after missing the last four games versus the Maple Leafs because of an upper-body injury. Pittsburgh's Marc-Andre Fleury stepped in for fellow G Matt Murray (lower body) prior to Game 1 versus the Blue Jackets and boasted a .933 save percentage in the first-round series. However, in three appearances against Washington this season, that SP was just .884. Let's not forget that Washington is 34-7-2 on home ice this season, outscoring opponents 3.20-to-1.68 GPG. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh's allowed 3.02 GPG on the road this year.
The pick: The Penguins finished second behind the Capitals in the Metropolitan Division by going 50-21-11 (111 points), while Washington finished 55-19-8 (118 points). This marks the first time since the 2001 Stanley Cup Final (Colorado Avalanche vs. New Jersey Devils) that the NHL's top-two teams from the regular season will meet in a playoff series. Isn't Washington overdue? At least for Game 1, the Caps get the best of the Pens. Make Washington a 10* play.
