PREMIUM
**$20 TUESDAY!** Rogers' TOTAL MASSACRE
(NHL) Arizona vs. Pittsburgh,
Total: 6.00 | 102.00 Over
Result: Win
Total: 6.00 | 102.00 Over
Result: Win
The set-up: The two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins are looking to snap out of a funk that has seen them drop four of their last five contests, all on the road. Pittsburgh (8-6-2) returns home tonight to face the Arizona Coyotes, who have gone 2-2-1 their last five games but had opened 0-10-1!
Arizona: It's safe to say that the Coyotes have played better of late, as it's pretty difficult to play worse than opening 0-10-1. Yes, they've earned five points in their last five games earning five points in their last five games (2-2-1) but did cough up a two-goal lead in losing at Washington 3-2 in overtime on Monday. Rookie Clayton Keller scored his 11th goal in the loss and has scored five times in the last seven contests to push his team-leading point total to 16. Scott Wedgewood made 37 saves in the loss at Washington, but No. 1 goaltender Antti Raanta is expected to be back in net after turning aside 36 shots in a 2-1 shootout win over Carolina on Saturday.
Pittsburgh: The Pens are coming off a 1-3-1 road trip but return to PPG Paints Arena with a four-game home winning streak intact. However, the team needs to start scoring, as Pittsburgh has managed just 13 goals in an eight-game span. The Penguins are averaging 2.63 goals per game (26th) after leading the NHL last season with 3.39 per game. Sidney Crosby has no goals in the past eight games,and fellow offensive star Phil Kessel has a six-game goal drought. Five of the team's eight scores in the last five games have come on the power play. Evgeni Malkin has scored four of his six goals with the man advantage to lead the club. Malkin has registered 15 points, one behind team leader Phil Kessel (Crosby is next with 13). Matt Murray, whose next win will be the 50th of his career, has dropped three of his last four decisions - allowing four goals twice - after starting the season 7-1-1.
The pick: Pittsburgh is second in the league on the power play, converting 28.8 percent and while it's difficult to see this team's offensive woes continuing, who wants to predict just when it will end. Arizona is just 1-7-1 on the road but the price is prohibitive. Expect a bounce-back from Murray and make the Under an 8* play.
Arizona: It's safe to say that the Coyotes have played better of late, as it's pretty difficult to play worse than opening 0-10-1. Yes, they've earned five points in their last five games earning five points in their last five games (2-2-1) but did cough up a two-goal lead in losing at Washington 3-2 in overtime on Monday. Rookie Clayton Keller scored his 11th goal in the loss and has scored five times in the last seven contests to push his team-leading point total to 16. Scott Wedgewood made 37 saves in the loss at Washington, but No. 1 goaltender Antti Raanta is expected to be back in net after turning aside 36 shots in a 2-1 shootout win over Carolina on Saturday.
Pittsburgh: The Pens are coming off a 1-3-1 road trip but return to PPG Paints Arena with a four-game home winning streak intact. However, the team needs to start scoring, as Pittsburgh has managed just 13 goals in an eight-game span. The Penguins are averaging 2.63 goals per game (26th) after leading the NHL last season with 3.39 per game. Sidney Crosby has no goals in the past eight games,and fellow offensive star Phil Kessel has a six-game goal drought. Five of the team's eight scores in the last five games have come on the power play. Evgeni Malkin has scored four of his six goals with the man advantage to lead the club. Malkin has registered 15 points, one behind team leader Phil Kessel (Crosby is next with 13). Matt Murray, whose next win will be the 50th of his career, has dropped three of his last four decisions - allowing four goals twice - after starting the season 7-1-1.
The pick: Pittsburgh is second in the league on the power play, converting 28.8 percent and while it's difficult to see this team's offensive woes continuing, who wants to predict just when it will end. Arizona is just 1-7-1 on the road but the price is prohibitive. Expect a bounce-back from Murray and make the Under an 8* play.
