PREMIUM
Rogers' *10* TOTAL DOMINATION >> Won 3 STRIAGHT in NHL!
(NHL) Pittsburgh vs. Washington,
Total: 5.50 | -115.00 Over
Result: Win
Total: 5.50 | -115.00 Over
Result: Win
The set-up: The 9-6-2 Pittsburgh Penguins and 8-7-1 Washington Capitals are off to relatively slow starts, with each of these traditionally high-scoring teams having their own struggles. Washington comes in with a struggling power play (ranks 16th at 18.0%), while Pittsburgh is having trouble scoring without the man advantage. The Penguins own the league's third-best power play (cashing in on 27.7 percent of their chances) but they have been outscored 44-21 during 5-on-5 action. Washington is averaging 2.88 GPG (18th) and Pittsburgh 2.65 GPG (24th).
Pittsburgh: Captain Sidney Crosby hasn't scored a goal in nine games and defenseman Kris Letang has only one goal all season. "Yes, it does," Crosby told reporters Thursday when asked if it feels like it's been awhile since he scored. "Usually that means you're close to putting on in, so hopefully that's a good sign for me. Yeah, there's been some chances there, some posts, things like that, but still like to generate a little bit more." Head coach Mike Sullivan reunited former linemates Evgeni Malkin and Phil Kessel on Tuesday and the pair sparked a 3-1 win over the Arizona Coyotes at PPG Paints Arena with a goal and two assists each.
Washington:Forwards T.J. Oshie and Nicklas Backstrom are mired in point droughts. Oshie has failed to dent the scoresheet in eight games while Backstrom has zero points in his last seven. "I realize that I've got to be better and I've got to create more chances, produce and be one of the leading guys on the team," Backstrom said. Alex Ovechkin scored a goal for the third straight contest on Tuesday, but Washington failed to muster anything else offensively and saw its three-game winning streak come to a halt with a 3-1 setback to Buffalo.
The pick: These teams have gone toe-to-toe often in recent postseasons, although the results have been one-sided, with Pittsburgh coming out on top. Neither No. 1 goalie has dominated in this matchup with Holtby going 7-8-2 with a 2.79 goals-against average, while Murray is 3-2 with a 3.88 GAA. However, Holtby has permitted just nine goals during his four-game winning streak entering this game and in the teams' first meeting, back in October at Capital One Arena, Matt Murray allowed just two goals in a 3-2 Pittsburgh win. Defense rules again here, with two struggling offensive clubs (see above). Make the Under a 10* play.
Pittsburgh: Captain Sidney Crosby hasn't scored a goal in nine games and defenseman Kris Letang has only one goal all season. "Yes, it does," Crosby told reporters Thursday when asked if it feels like it's been awhile since he scored. "Usually that means you're close to putting on in, so hopefully that's a good sign for me. Yeah, there's been some chances there, some posts, things like that, but still like to generate a little bit more." Head coach Mike Sullivan reunited former linemates Evgeni Malkin and Phil Kessel on Tuesday and the pair sparked a 3-1 win over the Arizona Coyotes at PPG Paints Arena with a goal and two assists each.
Washington:Forwards T.J. Oshie and Nicklas Backstrom are mired in point droughts. Oshie has failed to dent the scoresheet in eight games while Backstrom has zero points in his last seven. "I realize that I've got to be better and I've got to create more chances, produce and be one of the leading guys on the team," Backstrom said. Alex Ovechkin scored a goal for the third straight contest on Tuesday, but Washington failed to muster anything else offensively and saw its three-game winning streak come to a halt with a 3-1 setback to Buffalo.
The pick: These teams have gone toe-to-toe often in recent postseasons, although the results have been one-sided, with Pittsburgh coming out on top. Neither No. 1 goalie has dominated in this matchup with Holtby going 7-8-2 with a 2.79 goals-against average, while Murray is 3-2 with a 3.88 GAA. However, Holtby has permitted just nine goals during his four-game winning streak entering this game and in the teams' first meeting, back in October at Capital One Arena, Matt Murray allowed just two goals in a 3-2 Pittsburgh win. Defense rules again here, with two struggling offensive clubs (see above). Make the Under a 10* play.
