Tag: Evgeni Malkin

NHL fans danced on the Penguins’ grave after they missed the playoffs for the first time in 16 years

There’s nothing like watching a villain go down in flames.

For most of Sidney Crosby’s legendary career, the Pittsburgh Penguins have been a fixture in the NHL postseason picture. Largely every year, Crosby’s Penguins have made the second season in the spring their second home. They have three Stanley Cups since 2009 to show for it.

But none of that past success means anything tangible right now when all Pittsburgh can do is sabotage itself.

After the New York Islanders dispatched the Montreal Canadiens Wednesday night, New York’s officially eliminated Pittsburgh from this year’s playoff field. This development means we’ll see a rarity this April/May/June: a postseason without the Penguins for the first time since the 2006 season.

Whoa. That almost feels surreal to actually type into coherent words. Let me try this again: A team with Crosby and Evgeni Malkin won’t even have a shot at the Cup. Huh. Nope, still feels weird!

Given all the teams this iteration of the Penguins has humbled and stepped on over the years, NHL fans celebrated Pittsburgh’s unprecedented early demise.

The Penguins had the most dapper fits for a team photo celebrating Mardi Gras

What a slick team fit for one of the biggest parties of the year.

Every year, Mardi Gras, or “Fat Tuesday,” is one of the biggest parties around. As the de facto last day of eating rich and throwing caution to the wind in Christian religions, it can sometimes get pretty wild.

Some celebrate it by eating lavish pastries like pączki — jelly-filled donuts often sprinkled with powdered sugar — in Chicago, thanks to its massive Polish population. Some celebrate it by throwing beads around and dancing and partying in the streets, like in New Orleans.

And some, like the Pittsburgh Penguins, will commemorate the occasion by dressing handsomely for a team photo. That’s exactly what Sidney Crosby and Co. did on Tuesday to celebrate the latest edition of Mardi Gras:

Look at those suspenders, those hats, and even the few guys wearing some beads! That is one proper way to dress for Fat Tuesday as a team.

Toronto Maple Leafs at Pittsburgh Penguins odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Tuesday’s Toronto Maple Leafs at Pittsburgh Penguins sports betting odds, with NHL matchup analysis and picks.

The Toronto Maple Leafs (31-21-8) visit the Steel City Tuesday for a 7 p.m. ET puck drop at the PPG Paints Arena against the Pittsburgh Penguins (36-15-6). We analyze the Leafs-Penguins odds and lines, while providing NHL betting tips around this matchup.

Maple Leafs at Penguins: Projected starting goalies

Frederik Andersen vs. Tristan Jarry

Anderson lost back-to-back starts, including a 5-2 loss to the Buffalo Sabres in Toronto’s last game on Sunday. He’s now at 24-11-6 on the season with a .908 save percentage and a 2.93 goals against average.

Jarry has been better than Matt Murray as the Penguins netminder in essentially the same amount of games. He has a higher winning percentage and save percentage plus gives up fewer goals per game. Jarry is 19-8-1 with a .930 SV% and a 2.14 GAA.

Place a sports bet on this hockey action or other games at BetMGM.

Maple Leafs at Penguins: Odds, picks and betting tips

Odds courtesy of BetMGM; access them at USA TODAY Sports for a full set of today’s betting odds. Odds last updated Tuesday at 1 p.m. ET.

Prediction

Penguins 4, Leafs 2

Moneyline (ML)

The Penguins are a phenomenal home team with a 21-5-4 record and a +1.06 goal differential in games at home. Pittsburgh crushed the Maple Leafs, 6-1, in their first meeting of the season on Nov. 16. The game was played in Pittsburgh, where the Penguins have owned the Leafs in recent years (10-4 in the last 14 home games against Toronto). Furthermore, this is a bad spot for the Leafs, who are 0-8 in their last eight in the fourth game of a 4-in-6 scenario.

BET PENGUINS -139 ON THE MONEYLINE.

New to sports betting? A $100 wager on the Penguins to win would return a profit of $71.94.

Puck Line/Against the Spread (ATS)

This game could be a more competitive game as Toronto +1.5 (-200) is starting its top goaltender in Anderson, whereas the Leafs started Kasimir Kaskisuo for his first, and only, career NHL game in their first meeting. But the Penguins -1.5 (+165) are the hotter team—winning five out of their last seven games with their only two losses coming against a Tampa Bay Lightning team that is second in the NHL in points. Also, five of the last six Leafs-Penguins games have been decided by two or more goals. 

TAKE THE PENGUINS ON THE PUCK LINE. 

Over/Under (O/U)

The UNDER 6.5 (-115) is the right play on the total because the trends say so and BetMGM is trying to scare bettors off with heavier vig on the Under. Three out of the last four Leafs-Penguins games have gone Under the projected total. The Under is 3-0-1 in Penguins last four games as a favorite and 3-0-2 in their last five versus Eastern Conference foes. 

Want some action on this matchup? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @Geoffery_Clark and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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Montreal Canadiens at Pittsburgh Penguins odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Friday’s Montreal Canadiens at Pittsburgh Penguins sports betting odds and lines, with NHL matchup analysis, picks and best bets.

The Montreal Canadiens (27-25-7) visit the Steel City to play the Pittsburgh Penguins (34-15-6) at PPG Paints Arena in a 7 p.m. ET puck drop. We analyze the Canadiens-Penguins odds and lines, while providing NHL betting tips around this matchup.

Canadiens at Penguins: Projected starting goalies

Carey Price vs. Matt Murray 

Price dropped his last two starts against the Boston Bruins (4-1) and the Arizona Coyotes (3-2). His record is 24-20-4 with a .913 save percentage and 2.71 goals against average through 48 games played (all starts).

In the other crease, Murray is coming in on consecutive losses himself, but both were to the Tampa Bay Lightning, who have the second-most points in the NHL. Murray is 16-7-5 on the season with a .902 SV% and 2.82 GAA.

Place a sports bet on this hockey action or other games at BetMGM.

Canadiens at Penguins: Odds, picks and betting tips

Odds courtesy of BetMGM; access them at USA TODAY Sports for a full set of today’s betting odds. Odds last updated at 12:10 p.m. ET.

Prediction

Penguins 3, Canadiens 2

Moneyline (ML)

This is the third meeting this year between the Canadiens and Penguins with the season series tied 1-1. Both games were won by the road team and both went Over the projected total. The Canadiens (+155) have been better on the road this season with a 14-10-3 record and a plus-.26 goal differential on the road compared to a 13-15-4 record and minus-.33 goal differential at home. Also, Montreal has won two straight games in Pittsburgh. 

The Penguins (-189) are one of the better teams at home this season with a 19-5-4 record in Pittsburgh. Their scheduled starting goalie, Murray, has a 4-1 lifetime record against Montreal with a .921 SV% and 2.19 GAA. PASS ON THE MONEYLINE because there isn’t enough value on either side.

Puck Line/Against the Spread (ATS)

Despite the low odds, the CANADIENS (+1.5, -167) are the right play here because of their against the spread trends. Montreal is 17-10 ATS on the road and 21-7 when getting 1.5 goals. Pittsburgh is just 11-17 ATS at home and 13-23 when laying 1.5 goals. Price has been better on the road than at home this season. He has a better record, higher SV% and lower GAA in 21 road starts. Also, the underdog is 5-0 in the last five meetings. 

Over/Under (O/U)

The last three Canadiens-Penguins games went Under the projected total. Plus, the Under has cashed in four straight Canadiens games and two consecutive Penguins games. The Canadiens have played a lot of close, low-scoring games against quality opponents recently. The Under is 3-0-1 in the Canadiens last four games versus a team with a winning record and 5-1-1 in the Canadiens last seven games as an underdog.

BET UNDER 5.5 (+105).

Want some action on this matchup? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @Geoffery_Clark and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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