Flames vs Penguins odds - Pens pushing for home ice in the playoffs
While we await the next March Madness betting round, Wednesday night treats us to several marquee NHL betting matchups. The Flames vs Penguins line, according to anyone who loves darkhorse teams, could be a Stanley Cup Final preview. The Flames enter Pittsburgh having bounced back from a loss with a big win over Detroit; the Penguins are on the flip side of the coin, having just ended a winning streak in a stinging loss to Philadelphia.
Sports betting - Flames vs Penguins odds – Wednesday, March 25 at 7:30 p.m. ET
- Flames have lost four of five on the road
- Calgary’s offense sizzling since Jokinen trade
- Sid the Kid finding his stride with new linemates
They may play on opposite sides of the continent, but the Flames and Penguins have a lot in common. They both boast a tandem of snipers who have been consistently uncontainable all season long – Jarome Iginla and Michael Cammalleri for the Flames and, to a larger extent, Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin for the Penguins. They each have a goaltender that polarizes hockey betting fans, with some proclaiming him an All-Star and some labeling him overrated – Miikka Kiprusoff for Calgary, Marc-Andre Fleury for Pittsburgh.
Both teams have even seen their respective offenses explode thanks to trade-deadline acquisitions. Regardless of how Calgary has played since trading for Olli Jokinen, you can’t fault him for anything; he’s notched eight goals and 12 points in nine games with the club. Bill Guerin and Chris Kunitz have been revelations for the Penguins, not to mention savvy NHL betting fans who immediately threw down sportsbook wagers on Pittsburgh games after deadline day. The rugged-yet-agile wingers have been especially helpful to Sidney Crosby, who seems back to being a top-three NHL scoring talent since the deal.
While I think both of these teams should win at least one Stanley Cup betting playoff series come April, they’re going in different directions at the moment. Though Calgary’s win over Detroit is a major step forward, it came at home. The Flames hit the road again and have lost four of five away from the Pengrowth Saddledome. They’ve sacrificed defensive focus in their offensive explosion this year; Dion Phaneuf in particular seems lost on the ice.
Losing to Philly, whom they’re chasing for fourth place and home-ice advantage, was a tough pill for the Penguins to swallow, but they should bounce back against the Flames on Wednesday. Their speed, skill and newfound depth upfront will cause major headaches for a Calgary defense corps that tries to improvise too often these days.
DON’S PICK: Bet on the Penguins to win a wild one in Calgary and, for Pete’s sake, bet the OVER in this one.
For more NHL picks and NHL betting odds, visit the Betting Edge at BetOnline.com.
Who better to offer great sports betting and hockey tips than a native Canadian? Like any good Canuck, Don Melrose eats, sleeps, breathes and bets hockey, making him the perfect NHL handicapper. Thoughts or questions? Email Comments@BetOnline.com.
