Pinnacle Odds: Pittsburgh Penguins +121 at Nashville Predators -134 Total 5.5
by Greg Dempson
Just as the NHL lengthy season is an “Odyssey,” Homer is the operative word after the first three games as the host team is a perfect 3-0 with the Predators punishing Pittsburgh in game 3, (5-1.) The home team is also 6-0 in the last six in this series plus Nashville is 8-1 in their home playoff games.
After an impressive game 3 performance the books have moved the money line from -145 up to -155/150 for the host team, (if you are interested in investing on the underdog, Pittsburgh’s return is as high as +140 at some books.) The total remains the same, 5.5 with the under at -125 and if you’re inclined to wager on the under . If you want to invest on the over your return is +115.
Pekka Rinne has certainly performed much better at home in the playoffs, in his nine home starts he has allowed only 14 goals and boasts a GAA of 1.55 and a save percentage of 94.9%.
Both Malkin (NHL playoff leading best 26 points) and captain Crosby, (23 playoff) points were held without a shot for the first time in the history of their payoffs as teammates, 143 games.
Game 4 Stanley Cup Finals System
· Play the under in the fourth game of the Stanley Cup finals. This system is 06-30-06 = 80% to the under and since each team is live when reducing the game 4 system the actual number of games is 18 so the system is 03-15-03 UNDER.
NHL Pick
I lost with the under in game one of the finals and while I do have an opinion on a lower scoring game 4 that dreaded empty net goal can cause havoc an I’ve backed off the total.