NHL Hockey Betting: Stanley Cup Playoffs for April 30, 2016
Two Eastern Conferences playoff games go on Saturday. At 3:00 PM Eastern the Islanders and Lightning will play Game Two of their series in Tampa with New York leading 1-0. At 8:00 PM Eastern, the Washington Capitals and Pittsburgh Penguins play Game Two of their series at the Verizon Center. Washington is off to a 1-0 lead thanks to T.J. Oshie’s hat trick and OT winner in Game One:
NEW YORK ISLANDERS AT TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING:
The New York Islanders certainly weren’t ‘hung over’ by their tough six game series against Florida as they came right out and dominated the Lightning on their home ice in Game One. The Lightning looked like a team that was feeling too good about themselves following their series win over Detroit. That happens, and there’s every reason to think they’ll have their focus back where it should be for Game Two. But how good are the Islanders? They just recalled seven players from their AHL affiliate in Bridgeport but that is just because they were eliminated from the playoffs. They’ve got two players on the roster that have won the Stanley Cup with other teams (Johnny Boychuk, Nick Leddy). John Tavares is a monster and completely took over the series against Florida. The always hysterical New York media has proclaimed the Islanders the ‘real deal’–never mind that they’ve just won their first playoff series since 1993. Lest we forget, they were saying the same thing about the Rangers after they tied their first round series with Pittsburgh at one game apiece. Now? Not so much…
In the other corner, however, we’ve got a team that made it to the Stanley Cup Finals a year ago. Ben Bishop is a year better (despite his miserable Game One performance) and has improved as a goaltender–that makes him so much more dangerous with his massive 6’7″ frame. The Tampa media is gaining solace from the fact that the Lightning have won five straight Game Two’s–and to be sure, they’ve got a nice record of bouncing back after bad performances this season. After allowing 4 or more goals this year the Bolts are 14-9 but after a loss by 2+ goals they went 15-7 this season. The Islanders haven’t done a good job dealing with short term success. They’re 1-2 when leading in a playoff series this year, 10-14 after a win by 2+ goals and 3-8 after a 3 game unbeaten streak. Not that it means anything, they’re also 5-12 on Saturday’s.
NHL road teams that win Game One of a best of seven series are only 38.7% winners in Game Two. There’s every reason to think that the Lightning are more focused and businesslike here. They can’t afford to go to Brooklyn down 0-2. Besides, this looks like an evenly matched series that could very well go seven games. The Islanders are definitely capable of winning this series but it won’t be easy.
TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING -150 OVER NEW YORK ISLANDERS
PITTSBURGH PENGUINS AT WASHINGTON CAPITALS:
Game One of this series was everything that was anticipated and then some–it took an overtime winner by T.J. Oshie to give Washington the victory and the 1-0 series lead. Oshie completed a hat trick with his OT goal. If anything was learned from Game One it was that the Capitals’ physicality could be a factor in this series. Four Penguins missed practice on Friday including Chris Kunitz along with Conor Sheary, Matt Cullen and Bryan Rust. Kunitz was hit by a puck and is listed as ‘day to day’. The remaining three players are listed as ‘probable’. Tom Wilson of the Capitals was hit with a $2k fine for kneeing Connor Sheary.
So what needs to happen in Game Two for the Penguins to even the series? For one thing, Sidney Crosby needs to be more of a factor. His turnaround following the early season coaching change was really the catalyst that transformed the entire season for Pittsburgh. The Pittsburgh defensemen need to stand up more emphatically against Washington’s blueliners. The Caps’ defensemen were significantly more physical than their Penguin counterparts in Game One. Pittsburgh d-man Kris Letang says he isn’t concerned by this development but maybe he should be. At least none of them are Anaheim Ducks’ coach Bruce Boudreau–he survived the Ducks’ early season tank job only to be fired after his team’s Game Seven loss at home to Nashville.
Another thing that Pittsburgh will want to do in Game Two is push the tempo–Washington prefers to play at a more methodical pace, sort of a hockey version of ‘half court basketball’. The faster the tempo, the better it is for Pittsburgh. There’s some concern about the lack of playoff experience for Penguins’ goaltender Matt Murray. The 21 year old rookie doesn’t *have* any playoff experience prior to this year but has played like a viking. Of course, it’s not like the Penguins have options with Marc Andre Fleury still sidelined after suffering his second concussion of the season. So far no update on Fleury’s status–he’s improving and practicing with his teammates but no timetable for his return to action. The team is keeping this all very hush hush–to the point where they’re not making Fleury available to the media because he ‘talks too much’. It’s starting to remind me of the way Montreal handled the Carey Price situation. If that’s the case, I don’t see what good it does. If Fleury is done for the year it would seem to be a better idea to make that emphatically clear. That would help the team rally behind Murray, at least in theory.
Don’t see Pittsburgh losing this one. This series is going at least six and the Penguins win Game Two.
BET PITTSBURGH PENGUINS +120 OVER WASHINGTON CAPITALS