Stanley Cup Picks – Series quickly becoming a classic
So much for this NHL betting series being over. The Penguins seemed on the ropes after Games 1 and 2 as the Red Wings outclassed them, and everyone who went with Pittsburgh in their Stanley Cup picks cowered in the corner. Then the Pens rattled off two straight impressive home wins and this series is rapidly morphing into a classic.
Stanley Cup picks: Game 5 Saturday, June 5 at 8:05 p.m. ET
- The Red Wings look exhausted compared to the young Penguins
- Malkin and Crosby are busting out again
- Detroit snipers Hossa, Franzen, Holmstrom have to step up their play
Was the Detroit team in Game 4 the same team that cruised through Game 1? When the Wings opened the series at home, they looked fresh, poised and smart. They smothered the Pens’ stars with tight positioning – especially by keeping Henrik Zetterberg on Sidney Crosby – and kept Marc-Andre Fleury off stride by shooting from all angles.
Somewhere along the line, though, things changed. The Penguins woke up at home, realized they were the bigger, stronger team, and started bullying the Wings. Brooks Orpik, Hal Gill and company started maximizing their strengths, using their big frames to put a serious hurt on the smaller Detroit forwards. Amazingly, they did so without taking too many penalties. Better yet, they finally cleared the net for Marc-Andre Fleury. In Game 4, he faced a ton of rubber, but he could at least see what came his away, and he was spectacular as a result, earning the game’s first star.
What offshore sportsbook players may not realize is that the Pens’ elevated effort on “D” is the root of their offensive turnaround. By inflicting punishment on the Wings, they’ve tired them out. Henrik Zetterberg is hobbled, gasping for air while trying to shadow Crosby and still generate offense of his own. He desperately needs Pavel Datsyuk back on the lineup, as he’s tiring; he finally loosened his grip on Crosby in Game 4 and Sid the Kid went off as a result. Crosby was all over the ice, scoring the game-winning goal and setting up Tyler Kennedy for the game winner.
We all know Detroit also hasn’t had an answer for Evgeni Malkin. The Wings’ defense is solid but it seems no one – not even Brad Stuart – can handle Malkin’s size and strength. His 35 points entering Game 4 are the highest single-season playoff total by any player not named Gretzky, Lemieux or Coffey. So much for him being a bust in crunch time.
Not all the news for the Wings is bad, of course. They haven’t lost to the Pens on home ice yet in this series, and those who bet on sports have legit concerns over Fleury’s ability to stay focused on the road. Pavel Datsyuk also has a real chance to return for Game 5 and that would seriously boost the Wings offensively and defensively. Also, the Red Wings’ top snipers – Marian Hossa, Johan Franzen and Tomas Holmstrom – are due to bust out. If they don’t, Detroit is in serious trouble.
DON’S PICK: Don’t call me a bandwagon jumper - I already picked the Pens to win Games 3 and 4, not to mention the series. I think they can keep the momentum going and steal Game 5 on the road to take a stranglehold on this NHL betting series. Pens detractors have taken for granted just how significant it is for one team to have two of the top three players in the world; even the mighty Wings don’t have an answer for Crosby and Malkin right now. Even if Datsyuk returns, he’ll be nowhere near 100 per cent. Bet on the Penguins to keep their teeth on Detroit’s throat and win Game 5.
For sports betting tips and more NHL betting tips, check out 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.
