NHL Game of the Year - Sid the Kid vs. Alex the Great in Game 7
by Robby Maddux
Betting NHL Online - Sid the Kid vs. Alex the Great in Game 7
The two most exciting words in any sport's postseason is: Game Seven! Add two of the biggest names to the fray—Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby—with a conference final appearance at stake, and you have the makings for possibly one of the most exciting NHL wagering matchups in many years.
This was the most anticipated postseason matchups of 2009, as its star-studded talent received enormous hype with the heated rivalry between Ovechkin and Crosby the main attraction, and every ounce of anticipation between the battling duo, and series as a whole, has lived up to and beyond its expectations. Including a classic history making Game 2 when Ovechkin and Crosby both recorded hat tricks, as one of the NHL's greatest star stricken playoff head-to-head performances.
And let's not forget, five of the six games in the books have been decided by one goal and three have been settled in overtime. That solidifies the competitive parity these two brought to the series and undoubtedly will bring to Wednesday's Game 7 showdown in the nation's capital, starting at 7:00pm EST. If you bet on NHL, deciding who to invest in is what really matters. Sid the Kid or Alex the Great? Kim Kardashian or Pamela Anderson? Bud or Bud Light? Bottom-line, all are great choices.
But here's the ruthless truth when choosing one of the two: Selecting one of the first two could bust or build your BetUS bankroll. The second duo you couldn't go wrong but we can only dream of having. As for the last two, after six beers or so they all taste the same and preference doesn't matter. With that said, the only thing that does matter to bettors is Sid the Kid or Alex the Great?
This is one of those meetings you can throw stats out the window, because the team that wants it most and brings the highest amount of testicular fortitude to the ice will win it. In other words, it's a tough game to handicap in a traditional manner. But to the true sports betting fan, watching this contest without action would be like going to a bar and ordering water.
Who do we select? Placing a bet on either Washington or Pittsburgh is like flipping a coin. So to enhance my viewing pleasure, I'm turning to the game's total, because there's a little more to go, including logic that's remarkably simple to earn cash. BetUS NHL odds list Washington at -135 and Pens +115 with a game total of 5½ over -130.
Four of the first six games in this series has played 'over' the number. There's been a combined total of 41 goals scored, 24 in the last three. It shouldn't come as a surprise because when these two meet the lamp stays lit. The 'over' has cashed in 21 of the last 27 meetings overall, and when these two forces battle in Washington, the 'over' owns a money-making 13-3 mark.
These are powerful numbers heavily supporting the 'over'. But here's where the simple logic builds you're account balance. In this business, or any other, if something seems to good to be true, it usually is! And, that's the case here because according to the before mentioned stats favoring the 'over', a wager on the up is a winner before the puck even drops. So don't be fooled!
Not buying into the theory: If it seems to good to be true, it usually is? Then consider this before making your NHL wagering total pick. There's no margin for error and it's unlikely, despite the star power and scoring threats all over the ice, that these two can sustain the series' vigorous pace in a Game 7 where a mistake could become the deciding factor. Expect a tightly played game with a much slower pace unlike the last three up-and-down hockey sprints.
As well, the last two meetings have resulted in overtime play. That naturally creates a huge impact mentally and physically, taking a toll on even the best-of-the-best athletes lacing up the skates on Wednesday. Even the brightest of stars have to be getting worn down and a bit heavily legged at this stage. That's another factor that could slow this game down, which ultimately limits scoring opportunities.
For the number crunchers that rely on stats, here's a couple sports NHL wagering trends adding more backbone to the pick. The 'under' is 9-4 in Caps last 13 playoff games as a favorite, and 4-0-1 in the Pens last five contests after allowing five goals or more in their previous game.
Free NHL Picks: Under 5½ +110 Pittsburgh-Washington
