Rangers vs Penguins Hockey Odds
The Pittsburgh Penguins and New York Rangers continue their Eastern Conference semifinal series at the Consol Energy Center on Sunday. The Rangers took Game 1 in the series in overtime on Friday, leaving the Penguins up against the ropes in this one, needing to win on Sunday to avoid going to New York with elimination on the table.
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Eastern Conference semifinal Game 2
New York Rangers (5-3) at Pittsburgh Penguins (4-3)
Date: Sunday, May 4, 2014
Time: 7:30 PM ET
In Canada? Try Pinnacle
Venue: Consol Energy Center
City: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
O/U Odds: 5
Money Line: Pittsburgh -160, New York +147
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It was Derick Brassard who netted the golden goal in Game 1, even if Benoit Pouliot did the same several seconds later, giving the Rangers a 3-2 victory and a series lead. Brassard beat Fleury with a wrister that popped out of the net in a hurry, only to have it fall to Pouliot, who slammed it back into the open cage.
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Pouliot was one of the Rangers to score in the first period, notching the game’s opening marker 5:04 into the first period. Brad Richards also added a first period goal to give the Rangers a 2-0 lead through 20 minutes.
The Penguins came back in the second period. Lee Stempniak was first to score, notching his second of the postseason. 6:13 later, it was James Neal scoring for just the second time in the playoffs as the team’s second line finally contributed.
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A scoreless third period gave way to overtime and Brassard’s fateful goal. Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist stopped 34 shots in the win, while Fleury made 24 stops.
The Rangers got the win despite having to play their fourth game in six days after going the distance with the Flyers in the opening round. The Penguins had been off after dispatching of the Blue Jackets in six games, and it was that rust that showed in the opening period which saw the Rangers take a 2-0 lead.
The Penguins need a win, and the bounce back factor is certainly at play here, but there is just too much value in the Rangers with this inflated line. The Rangers are the better all-around team and have what it takes to exploit the Penguins’ weaknesses. A second consecutive win on the road may be asking a lot, but the Rangers have what it takes to pull it off.
Additionally, goals haven’t been hard to come by when these teams met. Fleury played better than expected in Game 1, and the Rangers’ jumping out to a two-goal lead in the first period wasn’t a favorable development for over bettors. The Penguins know how important this game is, and will throw everything they’ve got at Lundqvist in this one.
The Rangers are 9-3 in their last 12 games played against Metropolitan Division opponents.
The over is 4-0-1 in the last five meetings between these teams, and 5-1-1 in the Penguins’ last seven games overall.
The play: New York +147, Over 5
