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NHL
Tuesday, March 3
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Ice Picks: NHL best bets
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Pittsburgh Penguins at Tampa Bay Lightning (N/A)
The Pittsburgh Penguins are back in the playoff picture after spending 56 days out of contention. Their 4-1 victory over the Dallas Stars Sunday helped them reach the eighth spot in the Eastern Conference standings.
The Penguins have been on fire since replacing head coach Michel Therrien with Dan Bylsma, going 5-1-1 under his direction. And the most remarkable part is that they have won three straight contests without the help of captain Sidney Crosby who has been sidelined with a groin injury.
Evgeni Malkin has stepped up during Crosby’s absence racking up one goal and two assists in Sunday’s win over Dallas increasing his league-leading point total to 92.
“I just tried to help my team with my scores and my assists,” Malkin told reporters. “It’s good because we’re playing every game better and better. The team feels great now.”
The team will feel even better when Crosby returns, which could be as early as Tuesday against Tampa Bay.
The Lightning managed to defeat Calgary 8-6 Sunday but this was only one of two wins in their last eight games.
Pick: Penguins
New Jersey Devils at Toronto Maple Leafs (+150, 5.5)
Martin Brodeur clearly silenced skeptics who thought that the goalie had lost his edge during his four-month absence from the game. Brodeur earned his 100th career shutout and his second in three games when the Devils beat the Flyers 3-0 Sunday afternoon.
“I feel pretty good,” Brodeur told the press. “I’ve worked so hard to get where I am. That was not really my concern. I know I didn’t play for a long time but worked out as hard as I could. Even if I’d have played games, I don’t think I’d have worked as hard as I did the last two months. I knew physically I was going to be OK. It was getting my sharpness back.”
Brodeur’s return has helped the Devils go under the total twice in their last three games. New Jersey has also ended up under the total five times in its last six.
The Leafs capped a four-game wining streak with a victory over the Senators Saturday night. But they will face a much tougher opponent in Brodeur and a Devils’ defense that has put up a wall in front of the net, allowing teams to fire very few shots on goal.
Pick: Under 5.5
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Tuesday, March 3
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ice Picks: NHL best bets
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pittsburgh Penguins at Tampa Bay Lightning (N/A)
The Pittsburgh Penguins are back in the playoff picture after spending 56 days out of contention. Their 4-1 victory over the Dallas Stars Sunday helped them reach the eighth spot in the Eastern Conference standings.
The Penguins have been on fire since replacing head coach Michel Therrien with Dan Bylsma, going 5-1-1 under his direction. And the most remarkable part is that they have won three straight contests without the help of captain Sidney Crosby who has been sidelined with a groin injury.
Evgeni Malkin has stepped up during Crosby’s absence racking up one goal and two assists in Sunday’s win over Dallas increasing his league-leading point total to 92.
“I just tried to help my team with my scores and my assists,” Malkin told reporters. “It’s good because we’re playing every game better and better. The team feels great now.”
The team will feel even better when Crosby returns, which could be as early as Tuesday against Tampa Bay.
The Lightning managed to defeat Calgary 8-6 Sunday but this was only one of two wins in their last eight games.
Pick: Penguins
New Jersey Devils at Toronto Maple Leafs (+150, 5.5)
Martin Brodeur clearly silenced skeptics who thought that the goalie had lost his edge during his four-month absence from the game. Brodeur earned his 100th career shutout and his second in three games when the Devils beat the Flyers 3-0 Sunday afternoon.
“I feel pretty good,” Brodeur told the press. “I’ve worked so hard to get where I am. That was not really my concern. I know I didn’t play for a long time but worked out as hard as I could. Even if I’d have played games, I don’t think I’d have worked as hard as I did the last two months. I knew physically I was going to be OK. It was getting my sharpness back.”
Brodeur’s return has helped the Devils go under the total twice in their last three games. New Jersey has also ended up under the total five times in its last six.
The Leafs capped a four-game wining streak with a victory over the Senators Saturday night. But they will face a much tougher opponent in Brodeur and a Devils’ defense that has put up a wall in front of the net, allowing teams to fire very few shots on goal.
Pick: Under 5.5
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