Stanley Cup Picks - Pittsburgh to Close the Gap in Game 3
by Tim Furious
Detroit has outmuscled, out skated, and outscored the Pittsburgh Penguins much like they did last year. What’s even more staggering to imagine is that they’ve been dominating Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin without Pavel Datsyuk, arguably their best player. Detroit won both Game 1 and 2 with a decisive score of 3-1. The series now swings back to the Igloo, a place where the Penguins have enjoyed much success in the playoffs. They’ll need to recreate that success if they have any hope of contending for Lord Stanley’s coveted prize.
Pittsburgh holds a 10-2 SU record at home right now, but Detroit owns two wins in Pittsburgh from the regular season. Even scarier to think about, if you’re a Penguins bettor, is that the outcome of those two games a nod for Detroit to the tune of 6-2 overall in the two matches. That’s not good news for anyone from Pittsburgh.
Detroit Red Wings vs. Pittsburgh Penguins
Tuesday, June 2nd --- Melon Arena, Pittsburgh --- 8:00pm EST
NHL Betting Line: Detroit +145 / Pittsburgh -150
The Penguins are getting the edge from the oddsmakers because they’re playing on their home ice, but there’s also the age-old betting trend that a playoff team down 0-2 SU heading back home in Game 3 usually wins. And while Detroit has owned the upper hand in this matchup, you can’t paint Pittsburgh in to a corner without expecting a backlash of some sort.
Pittsburgh still has two of the best four young players in the league, with Malkin grabbing a goal and a helper, while Crosby has been held pointless during the series. That, however, is not his fault. He’s an opportunity creator that the league has not seen since Gretzky. Through tireless creativity, he gives his line mates opportunities to score. The problem for Pittsburgh is not Crosby but the rest of the team.
That being said, I expect Pittsburgh to feed off the frenzied home crowd and get a barreling and Detroit by themselves. Hockey, more than any other major sport, is a team game and Pittsburgh has to show the kind of determination that a championship team commands.
NHL Furious Free Pick: Pittsburgh -150 (OVER)
