NHL Picks – Rundown For Saturday, April 24th
Nashville Predators @ Chicago Blackhawks
The tide has turned in the Nashville-Chicago series but the Predators don’t really want to admit that. Up 2-1 after a couple of impressive efforts to start the series, it looked like the Predators might have a chance to win Game 4 and really back the Blackhawks up against the wall.
Instead, the Blackhawks not only win Game 4 but they did in such dominating fashion that the Predators have to be a little nervous that the second-best team in the West has woken up.
Jonathan Toews finally found the back of the net in Game 4 and the Blackhawks defense woke up as they protected their own zone and helped Anti Niemi to a shutout win. The Blackhawks 3-0 win is an indication of what’s left to come in the next couple of games as the Blackhawks should win Game 5 at home rather easily.
Pick: BlackahwksPittsburgh Penguins @ Ottawa Senators
The Ottawa Senators outlasted the Pittsburgh Penguins on Wednesday night but one has to wonder whether that just delays the inevitable. The Senators took an early 2-0 lead in Game 5 but were on their heels the rest of the way as the Penguins blitzed them. They were lucky that they made it to overtime as some people were expecting the Penguins to end after Sidney Crosby gave his team the lead late in the third period.
The reality is that the Penguins tried to skate by in Game 5 and try to win it without much effort. That’s not going to work against anyone. But this time around, the Penguins are going to play with much more heart like they did in the previous three games.
While Pascal Leclaire is hot after a 56-save outing, Pittsburgh has solved him – and the Senators – before and sports betting cappers will see them do it again to end this series on the road.
Pick: PenguinsSan Jose Sharks @ Colorado Avalanche
Online betting fans were hoping to see the Colorado Avalanche upend the top-seeded San Jose Sharks and prove to the world that they are still chokers, but that doesn’t look like it’s going to happen now.
The Sharks have had some tough breaks but they have overcome the adversity and are now in the driver’s seat as the series heads back to Colorado.
When you look back at this series, the Avalanche have caught some big breaks. They have won two games but both of those wins came in overtime with one goal deflecting off of Sharks defenseman Rob Blake and the second when Dan Boyle accidentally thre w it at his own net.
NHL betting fans know that with the Sharks 5-0 victory on Wednesday, the tide has turned and they are ready to make a move to Round 2. After all of the flack they have taken, they could become the first team in the Western Conference to advance to Round 2, which will give them at least a quick breather.
The Avs are finished. When you do the math, they have scored just two goals in the last three games and as the Sharks have taken control of momentum, they have figured out the Avs.
Don’t be surprised if Craig Anderson has one more stellar effort in him but the Sharks are ready to chomp the bait and move on.
Pick: Sharks
