NHL Hockey
2012-05-09 - New York Rangers at Washington Capitals
A Sports Betting Pick by Addicted
Ice Hockey : North America : NHL
Wednesday, May 9th, 2012, 7:30PM US
(12:30AM GMT)
PREVIEW
All the other series at this stage are over. Phoenix, New Jersey and Los Angeles have all won convincingly but this series continues to see advantage yo-yo from one team to another. The Rangers and the Capitals have alternated wins through 5 games now, and they've been close. The Rangers have won 2 of their 3 games in OT, and the most stunning of them came in Game 5.
Washington were 2-1 up and ready to take the lead in the series for the first time, until Joel Ward gave up a penalty. With the man advantage, the Rangers' Brad Richards scored with just 6.6 seconds left in the game to take it to OT, and with the team still on the PowerPlay, they belted one in again through Marc Staal to take the game in stunning fashion. Washington need to win both games to take this series in Game 7. It's not new territory. They knocked out the reigning champions, the Boston Bruins, in game 7 on the road.
Since the Rangers won Game 1 by a 3-1 score, each and every game has been decided by a 1 goal margin, that's how close these two teams are. In no game has the total gone past 5, hitting that number 3 times and going under that twice. The spread has once again been set at 5, but it's been bet down to a bad price now and I wouldn't want to take a number lower than that anyway as there is always a chance it hits 5 in OT.
Bear in mind, not only have teams alternated wins and losses (a trend which suggests Washington will win this one) but the winner has been the team that has scored first. After that horrible way to snatch a loss from the jaws of victory, Washington will make full use of home ice to dominate the Rangers. Remember, in Game 5, the Capitals were actually solid when a man down, holding the Rangers without a shot in their first 3 situations with an extra man, until finally letting their concentration slipped with just 6 seconds left in the game.
BETTING VERDICT
The Rangers will be nervous, no doubt about it, because they really should be behind in this series now. While they rode their luck, Washington will take confidence from the fact they are able to take down the Rangers. All they have to do is see the game out properly. They will lead from the 1st period and we will see another Game 7. Take Washington.
The Pick :
Washington Capitals
BEST BETTING TIP :
Take the Washington to win @ 1.95 (Pinnacle)
