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Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Pittsburgh Penguins Game 7 NHL Playoff Pick

Its NHL Playoff betting time once again. The Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Pittsburgh Penguins is on tap Wednesday. Both will be trying to pick up a win in Game 7 with the line opening with Pittsburgh as a -135 favorite in this matchup. The over/under is set at 5, here is the handicapping preview…

2011 NHL Hockey Free Playoff Predictions: Lightning vs Penguins

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NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs 2011 Game Seven
Wednesday April 27, 2011 – 8:00 PM ET
Venue: Consol Energy Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Broadcast: CBC
Tampa Bay Lightning at Pittsburgh Penguins
Betting Lines From Bodog.com:
Money Line: Penguins -135
Over/Under: 5
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After spoiling a couple of opportunities to clinch a spot in the conference semi finals, the Pittsburgh Penguins are down to their final chance to keep their 2011 playoff hopes alive with a decisive game seven against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Wednesday. Even without superstars Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin in the lineup Pittsburgh managed to win three of the first four games in their opening round series, but the past two games have been a disaster as the Lightning’s offense came alive with consecutive strikes. Tampa Bay outscored the Penguins 12-4 in their last two wins, and it’s no secret that there is a direct correlation between the teams’ offense and favorable results. The bolts have scored an average of 5.66 goals per game in their three wins this series, compared to an average of 1.33 in their three losses.

While it was the Lightning’s stars that broke out in the game five victory, it was the third and fourth line players that really showed up in game six. Steve Downie, Teddy Purcell, and Sean Bergenheim all scored on Monday, and head coach Guy Boucher is confident that if his role players can put together another solid start it will be enough to get them into the second round. Steven Stamkos and Simon Gagne have shown flashes of brilliance in the series, but they will need to put together a much more consistent effort to produce the way that veteran Martin St. Louis has to lead the Lightning in scoring.

The Penguins knew that it wouldn’t be easy without Crosby and Malkin in the lineup, but with a couple of outstanding performances from Marc-Andre Fleury and a determined effort from their entire lineup they managed to pull to within one game of advancing. Fleury really struggled in the past two losses while the team in front of him looked exhausted by the midway point of the third period in their 4-2 loss. Now head coach Dan Bylsma will need to find a way to motivate his troops to get the most out of them for one more game. Bylsma will undoubtedly draw on the experience from the Penguins’ 2009 Stanley Cup win, with several core veterans that were a part of that team.

One more factor that will work against them is their history in decisive games, as Pittsburgh is just 2-5 all-time in game sevens that were played one home ice. The Penguins have lost five straight games with the opportunity to advance dating back to their second round series against the Montreal Canadiens in last year’s playoffs, a set in which they lost three straight after winning three of their first four. The Lightning will throw everything that they have at Pittsburgh to try and duplicate that outcome, with their star talent and depth making the difference that completes the comeback.

Pick: Lightning

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