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The Final Four for the Stanley Cup is set and Sesame Street couldn’t be happier with a pair of “P’s” meeting in the Eastern Conference, while in the West, a “D” is certain to be playing for the Cup. Detroit is still the favorite to take home Lord Stanley’s trophy at 3-2 odds, with Pittsburgh the second choice at 9-5. Both Dallas and Philadelphia are playing great hockey and are 7-2 to walk away winners as lower seeds. Here is betting preview of each series, starting in Thursday’s first matchup in the Western Conference.
So much for Dallas failures in the playoffs. After failing to win an opening round series in three years, the Stars have shone bright to reach the West Finals. It’s been no fluke either for Dallas, winning the first two games of each series on the road, carving out the hearts of Anaheim and San Jose. Goalie Marty Turco, known for regular season excellence and post-season lapses, has allowed more than three goals just three times in a dozen games and has 1.73 goals against average in the playoffs.
Dallas heads to the Motor City 26-17 against the money line versus offensive teams scoring three or more goals a game over the last two seasons. Dallas will try to be the first team to mix it up with Detroit and slow down free flowing Red Wings attack. Captain Brendon Morrow had a fine season and will need strong contributions from icon of the franchise Mike Modano and leading scorer Mike Ribeiro.
After struggling with Nashville in the opening round, Detroit inserted Chris Osgood between the pipes and hasn’t looked back since. The Red Wings have reeled off six wins in a row, with Osgood sizzling in the nets with 1.52 GAA. On the subject of hot, what about Johan “The Mule” Franzen! He has scored 26 points in last 26 games, including 11 points in the playoffs. His work has overshadowed stars like Pavel Datsyuk, Henrik Zetterberg and Nicklas Lidstrom. Detroit has shown no discernable weakness and is 19-5 after a blowout win by three goals or more this season.
Dallas has played outstanding hockey in the postseason; however breaking thru in Detroit will be arduous task with the Wings 34-12 on home ice. Detroit won the season series 3-1 and no reason barring injuries to believe they won’t be moving to Stanley Cup finals.
Pick- Detroit -230 in six
Opening on Friday in the Keystone State, division rivals will collide to determine who’s the best team in Pennsylvania and the Eastern Conference. Philadelphia is going for conference trifecta, having already beaten the number three and one seeds, now hunting for second-seeded Pittsburgh.
With this much at stake, emotions will be running even higher for these teams whose rivalry predates anyone wearing sweaters in this series. Philadelphia altered their team after a couple of unsuccessful seasons and though they still love to hit, they have more skilled players that can skate. Continued stellar play from R.J. Umberger would be a big plus, who personally destroyed Montreal with eight goals and one assist. The Flyers are second in goals scored in the playoffs, showing surprising depth. No one is shocked to learn Philly is the most penalized team in the post-season and to date they have survived. That might not be the case against Pittsburgh, who has at least one power play goal in eight of nine playoff games. The Flyers defense and goalie Martin Biron are going to have to be stout. Philadelphia has won eight of last 11 and is 4-3 on the road.
If Philadelphia is brawn, combined with blue-collar work attitude, Pittsburgh is highly skilled, with superior talent, finally sticking their collective noses into the fray. Playing fading Ottawa and elderly Rangers, does not prepare one to be “punched in the face” so to speak by the Flyers. Philly’s strong armed talents enabled them to beat the Penguins five of eight times, including three as underdog or Pick. Playoff hockey is different, as matchups become more important and trying to contain ultra-talented centers Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin is harrowing task for any defense. Malkin in particular, with linemates Ryan Malone and Petr Sykora, have displayed an uncanny ability to generate offense from what looks like a dead play. Malkin and Crosby have combined for 28 points in nine games, meaning opponents have very little time off on shifts without feeling the pressure of clever playmakers.
Pittsburgh is 21-7 in home games against good offensive teams scoring 2.85 or more goals a game in the second half of the season, with goalie Marc-Andre Fleury showing the composure he lacked a season ago and is third in goals allowed in hockey’s second season at 1.76.
This will be physical, demanding Eastern final, with the Pens having too many talented players with better goaltending.
Pick- Pittsburgh -220 in six
Odds and series prices provided by Sportsbook.com
StatFox has correctly picked ten of 12 series, including three outright upsets.
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