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The NHL couldn’t have drawn it up any better if they used one of those erasable white boards with a hockey rink on it. The Pens and Caps are going to Game 7 in a series that is breaking television ratings records for hockey games in the U.S.
So far we’ve seen three overtimes and five of the first six games were decided by just one flicker of the goal light.
So what will go down in Game 7? We’ll help you decide.
Pittsburgh Penguins at Washington Capitals (-145, 5.5)
The goal is to score
If you’re not sure who to take Wednesday, you might want to start with the over/under. These two clubs have met 10 times this season and only twice have under bettors made away with the money.
Both unders came in this series and five goals were scored in each game with totals set at 5.5. Pittsburgh and Washington are averaging seven goals per game when they get together this season, not including shootout goals.
When stats lie
When you look at the numbers for this series, it’s hard to believe Washington ever had Pittsburgh on the ropes. The Pens outshot the Caps in every game – four times by double digits – and Washington has yet to gain more power plays in any game of the series.
Washington holds the advantage in one key area though - face offs. The Caps have won the quick draw battle in the last five games.
Injury front
It looks like Sergei Gonchar, the Pens top defenseman and power play quarterback, will miss his third straight game after Ovechkin tried to amputate him with a knee-on-knee hit in Game 4.
Gonchar had a point in each of the first four games of the series and was +2 before being injured.
Bumps and bruises
The playoffs are synonymous with pain and the players know that best. But Pittsburgh looked like it took more lumps in Game 6. Sidney Crosby was in agony after blocking a shot with his foot in the first period and the Caps just seemed to be taking more of the physical liberties.
Experience factor
This core group of Pens players went to the finals last year, but the Caps might have the edge in the been there, done that department. Sidney Crosby and most of the other youngsters on Pitt have never played in a Game 7.
Washington is coming off a seven-game set against the Rangers in Round 1. The Caps won that finale 2-0 at home as -240 faves.
Series star watch
Alex Ovechkin: 7 goals, 6 assists, +6
Sidney Crosby: 6 goals, 4 assists, +4
Evgeni Malkin: 2 goals, 6 assists, -2
Mike Green: 0 goals, 4 assists, -2
Other key numbers:
- Pens are 5-2 in games where they can eliminate Washington in the playoffs.
- Washington has given up an average of 38 shots the past five games.
- Pittsburgh hasn’t won a game in regulation time in Washington this year.
- Heading into Game 6 the Pens had blocked the most shots in the playoffs with 161.
The NHL couldn’t have drawn it up any better if they used one of those erasable white boards with a hockey rink on it. The Pens and Caps are going to Game 7 in a series that is breaking television ratings records for hockey games in the U.S.
So far we’ve seen three overtimes and five of the first six games were decided by just one flicker of the goal light.
So what will go down in Game 7? We’ll help you decide.
Pittsburgh Penguins at Washington Capitals (-145, 5.5)
The goal is to score
If you’re not sure who to take Wednesday, you might want to start with the over/under. These two clubs have met 10 times this season and only twice have under bettors made away with the money.
Both unders came in this series and five goals were scored in each game with totals set at 5.5. Pittsburgh and Washington are averaging seven goals per game when they get together this season, not including shootout goals.
When stats lie
When you look at the numbers for this series, it’s hard to believe Washington ever had Pittsburgh on the ropes. The Pens outshot the Caps in every game – four times by double digits – and Washington has yet to gain more power plays in any game of the series.
Washington holds the advantage in one key area though - face offs. The Caps have won the quick draw battle in the last five games.
Injury front
It looks like Sergei Gonchar, the Pens top defenseman and power play quarterback, will miss his third straight game after Ovechkin tried to amputate him with a knee-on-knee hit in Game 4.
Gonchar had a point in each of the first four games of the series and was +2 before being injured.
Bumps and bruises
The playoffs are synonymous with pain and the players know that best. But Pittsburgh looked like it took more lumps in Game 6. Sidney Crosby was in agony after blocking a shot with his foot in the first period and the Caps just seemed to be taking more of the physical liberties.
Experience factor
This core group of Pens players went to the finals last year, but the Caps might have the edge in the been there, done that department. Sidney Crosby and most of the other youngsters on Pitt have never played in a Game 7.
Washington is coming off a seven-game set against the Rangers in Round 1. The Caps won that finale 2-0 at home as -240 faves.
Series star watch
Alex Ovechkin: 7 goals, 6 assists, +6
Sidney Crosby: 6 goals, 4 assists, +4
Evgeni Malkin: 2 goals, 6 assists, -2
Mike Green: 0 goals, 4 assists, -2
Other key numbers:
- Pens are 5-2 in games where they can eliminate Washington in the playoffs.
- Washington has given up an average of 38 shots the past five games.
- Pittsburgh hasn’t won a game in regulation time in Washington this year.
- Heading into Game 6 the Pens had blocked the most shots in the playoffs with 161.
I agree with some of this. The NHL has proven that the area they have expanded south of St Louis will not support a team unless it is winning. The league would have been better off giving their game away for free to the ESPN family. They showed a single highlight of the Chicago/Vancouver game the other night at the end of Sportscenter. SC is hardly a show one gets their information from. Half the time their features are either lead-ins to their shows, or something they covered.
