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NHL
Monday, April 25
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Ice picks: Monday's best NHL bets
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Pittsburgh Penguins at Tampa Bay Lightning (-150, 5)
So much for Tampa Bay players getting ready for an early tee time this week.
The Lightning turned the tables on Pittsburgh, smacking the Pens for the second time in the series in Pennsylvania and taking Game 5 by a score of 8-2. In the game, Tampa Bay was able to dominate the play on special teams. Pittsburgh has enjoyed a huge advantage skating 5-on-5, but after going 4-for-7 on the man advantage, the Lightning have now buried eight power play goals in the series.
Even more important, the team’s offensive engine has now been engaged.
Star forward Steve Stamkos notched his first two career postseason goals in Game 5, lifting a huge weight off his shoulders and restoring his teammate’s confidence – as well as his.
"He found the net, so it's like, 'Phew.' He can play now," Tampa Bay coach Guy Boucher said. "He's like a horse who wants to get going but is being held back. Now all of a sudden, we're going to let him go."
And don’t act like Pittsburgh doesn’t realize the sleeping giant they have allowed to awaken.
"We're usually a much better defensive team than that, including down low," Penguins defenseman Zbynek Michalek said. "We've got to do better -- a lot better -- next time."
Pick: Tampa Bay
San Jose Sharks at Los Angeles Kings (+110, 5)
Jonathan Quick had plenty of San Jose players skating away from his crease in a 3-1 King’s win in Game 5. But then again, when a goalie makes 51 saves in regulation to stave off elimination, it’s enough to frustrate any squad.
"It was unacceptable to let this game slip away," San Jose center Logan Couture said. "We had a 3-1 lead coming into this rink, playing in front of this crowd. They were fired up. We expect more from this team in the first 10 minutes of a game, especially when you've got a team on the brink of elimination."
The Sharks also realize the last thing they want is a return trip to San Jose for Game 7. After, the players already were humanizing the performance of Quick and discussing wasted opportunities and careless play.
Center Patrick Marleau summed it up best: "He made tons of great saves, but maybe [we needed] a little more traffic in front."
Expect there to be plenty of bodies in front of Quick for Game 6. The Sharks have scored 15 goals in their three wins and have failed to record at least 27 shots on goal in only one game this series.
The team has the firepower to solve Quick – and end the series.
Pick: San Jose
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Monday, April 25
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ice picks: Monday's best NHL bets
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pittsburgh Penguins at Tampa Bay Lightning (-150, 5)
So much for Tampa Bay players getting ready for an early tee time this week.
The Lightning turned the tables on Pittsburgh, smacking the Pens for the second time in the series in Pennsylvania and taking Game 5 by a score of 8-2. In the game, Tampa Bay was able to dominate the play on special teams. Pittsburgh has enjoyed a huge advantage skating 5-on-5, but after going 4-for-7 on the man advantage, the Lightning have now buried eight power play goals in the series.
Even more important, the team’s offensive engine has now been engaged.
Star forward Steve Stamkos notched his first two career postseason goals in Game 5, lifting a huge weight off his shoulders and restoring his teammate’s confidence – as well as his.
"He found the net, so it's like, 'Phew.' He can play now," Tampa Bay coach Guy Boucher said. "He's like a horse who wants to get going but is being held back. Now all of a sudden, we're going to let him go."
And don’t act like Pittsburgh doesn’t realize the sleeping giant they have allowed to awaken.
"We're usually a much better defensive team than that, including down low," Penguins defenseman Zbynek Michalek said. "We've got to do better -- a lot better -- next time."
Pick: Tampa Bay
San Jose Sharks at Los Angeles Kings (+110, 5)
Jonathan Quick had plenty of San Jose players skating away from his crease in a 3-1 King’s win in Game 5. But then again, when a goalie makes 51 saves in regulation to stave off elimination, it’s enough to frustrate any squad.
"It was unacceptable to let this game slip away," San Jose center Logan Couture said. "We had a 3-1 lead coming into this rink, playing in front of this crowd. They were fired up. We expect more from this team in the first 10 minutes of a game, especially when you've got a team on the brink of elimination."
The Sharks also realize the last thing they want is a return trip to San Jose for Game 7. After, the players already were humanizing the performance of Quick and discussing wasted opportunities and careless play.
Center Patrick Marleau summed it up best: "He made tons of great saves, but maybe [we needed] a little more traffic in front."
Expect there to be plenty of bodies in front of Quick for Game 6. The Sharks have scored 15 goals in their three wins and have failed to record at least 27 shots on goal in only one game this series.
The team has the firepower to solve Quick – and end the series.
Pick: San Jose
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