The Ottawa Senators will look to pull another NHL betting odds upset when they visit the Pittsburgh Penguins tonight in game 2 of the Stanley Cup playoffs Eastern Conference Finals. Forward Bobby Ryan scored the go-ahead goal 4:59 into OT and the Sens took game 1 2-1 on Saturday. “[Ryan is] playing unreal,” Ottawa forward Kyle Turris said. And who could blame him? Unreal is one heck of a first-person shooter. Not as fun as Doom, though. Jean-Gabriel Pageau gave the Senators a 1-0 lead at 14:32 of the first period while goalie Craig Anderson made 27 saves. Evgeny Malkin scored his 54th playoff goal for the Penguins. In spite of the feat, the Sens entered tonight as huge road dogs – a position in which they have gone 9-3 this postseason.
Time: 8:00 PM
Venue: PPG Paints Arena
Sportsbook odds for fans who bet on hockey:
Senators +1½ (-175) 5 (-145) +175
Penguins -1½ (+155) 5 (+125) -210
Ottawa
Recent form: The Sens have won six games in OT this postseason and lost only one. Ottawa has prevailed in six of their last eight games, including the last three straight. However, the Senators have lost one third of their last 21 meetings with the Pens.
News: Only three teams have more single postseason OT wins than the Sens; the 1993 Montreal Canadiens (10), the 2002 Carolina Hurricanes (7), and the 2003 Mighty Ducks (7). “For the most part, we find [overtime] the most fun,” Turris said. “I think every kid dreams about playing overtime in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. It’s the most fun part of the game.”
Trends for fans who bet on hockey: Ottawa has covered the spread in five of their last seven road games and eight of their last 11 overall. The NHL betting total has gone over in five of the Sens’ last seven visits to the Penguins.
Pittsburgh
Recent form: The Pens have dropped three of their last four games but have come out victorious in two thirds of their last nine at home and in nine of their last 11 times hosting the Senators.
News: The Penguins have been working on their KISS Principle ahead of game 2. The Pens made more passes than a magician but not enough shots on goal to head coach Mike Sullivan’s liking on Saturday. The Pens also hope to Tim Taylor their power play; they went 0-for-5 in game 1. “We need to play a little bit lower, (Sidney Crosby) and (Patric Hornqvist) on the goal line,” Malkin said. “Maybe even behind the net. Something new.” And maybe you’d like to keep your cards closer to your chest there, Evgeny.
Trends for fans who bet on hockey: Pittsburgh has covered in 10 of the last 14 contests and in six of their last eight homes. The NHL betting total has gone under in two thirds of the Pens’ last six games, under in seven of their last nine at home, and under in five of their last seven at home against the Sens.