Tonight is the end of the NHL betting road for either the Ottawa Senators or the Pittsburg Penguins in game 7 of the Stanley Cup playoffs Eastern Conference Finals. Craig Anderson made a whopping 45 saves to help the Sens hold off the Pens 2-1 on Tuesday to tie the series 3-3 and force a seventh and final game. It was a redeeming night for Anderson, who allowed four goals on 14 shots in game 5. Evgeni Malkin gave Pittsburgh a 1-0 lead at 4:51 of the second period, but Ottawa snapped a 0-for-29 streak on the power play with Bobby Ryan’s goal at 13:15. Mike Hoffman scored the go-ahead 1:34 into the third period.
Time: 8:00 PM
Venue: PPG Paints Arena
Sportsbook odds for fans who bet on hockey:
Senators +1½ (-175) 5 (-115) +170
Penguins -1½ (+155) 5 (-105) -200
Ottawa
Les Sénateurs have a long history of choking in game 7. Unlike the original Senators – which won 11 Stanley Cups – the modern-day Sens are 0-5 (0-4 on the road) in game 7s. However, these Senators have as much regard for history as Johnny Depp has for accounting. “For me, it’s about not looking at the past,” head coach Guy Boucher said. “I can draw back on many, many Game 7s that I’ve been in and we won and it was unbelievable and also in Game 7s where you lose.”
Trends for fans who bet on hockey: The Sens have lost two thirds of their last six road games and six of their last seven visits to Pittsburgh, but have covered in seven of their last eight games in six of their last nine on the road. Additionally, the Sens are 5-4 on the road these playoffs, earning gamblers who bet $100 a $360 profit. The NHL betting total has gone under in six of the Senators’ last nine road games against the Penguins.
Pittsburgh
Mayor William Peduto has declared today to be “Black and Gold” Day in Allegheny County and the City of Pittsburgh. That’s nice of them to pay homage to Goldust and Stryper. Oh, it’s because of the Penguins colours. Hopefully, this will not be a date which will live in infamy. “We know from experience that no one should ever count a Pittsburgh team out,” County Executive Rich Fitzgerald said. Unless those teams are called the Pirates or the Steelers.
Trends for fans who bet on hockey: The Pens are 9-7 in Game 7s (3-7 at home). Three of those games have taken place in the last two seasons, and as recently as Eastern Conference Second Round against the Nationals. Last year, the Penguins eliminated the Lightning in seven games to advance to the Stanley Cup finals which they won. Pitt has won eight of the last 11 home games, but has covered only in 20% of their last six games and one of their last seven meetings with the Sens. The NHL betting total has gone under in eight of the last 11 games at PPG Paints Arena.