Predators vs Penguins Online Betting: Stanley Cup Final 2017 Game 2

Nashville vs Pittsburgh Game 2 Preview

The Stanley Cup Finals had a lot to live up to following the back-and-forth nailbiters the playoffs had seen and game 1 was memorable for both the right and wrong reasons. The Pittsburgh Penguins set another NHL record by registering the fewest shots on goal by a winning team. After scoring three quick goals in the first, the Pens didn't register another shot until late in the third. The Predators must feel frustrated for losing despite shutting down Pittsburgh for over half the game. They'll look to even it up on Wednesday.

	PUCKLINE	MONEYLINE	TOTAL
Predators	+1.5 (-215)	+115	o5.5 (+120)
Penguins	-1.5 (+175)	-135	u5.5 (-140)

The Penguins proved bookmakers right with a 5-3 win in game 1 but it didn't come without some drama. After exploding to score three goals in the final four minutes of the first period they literally stopped shooting. For over 37 minutes, including the entirety of the second period, the Penguins registered a whopping zero shots on net. And yet they still came away with the W. Optimists see that even in a worst-case scenario the Pens still scored five goals but pragmatists see this as a troubling sign.

Nashville didn't win but for the most part, they outplayed the Penguins. The Predators' defensemen were responsible for their first two goals (both on the powerplay) and limiting the Pens to 12 shots on goal. Pekka Rinne was stellar heading into this series but allowed four goals on just 11 shots, which is easily his worst performance. The bright side is it's unlikely he lays another egg and should he return to form, the Penguins will have an even rougher time finding the back of the net.

While Pittsburgh won the brunt of the faceoffs (58%), they spent most of the game defending their zone while battling to retain or regain possession. Both teams delivered on the power play and the script was right in seeing Pittsburgh's star players score while Nashville's defensemen shined. The difference, outside of the goaltending, were Pittsburgh's role players stepping up to score. Jake Guentzel scored his tenth goal ending Pittsburgh's shotless streak while Nick Bonino scored two big goals. If the Predators hope to tie the series, they'll need more from their forwards.

Predators at Penguins Online Betting

The Penguins got shut out in game 1 and still scored five goals. The chances of Pittsburgh being limited to 12 shots again is about as slim as Pekka Rinne letting in four goals on 11 shots. Should the Pens find a way around the Nashville defense, they can generate better scoring opportunities but Rinne will negate these chances if he gets A-game back. At only -135 however, the Pens are the likelier winner and now's an opportune time to bet them before the chalk puts them higher than their game 1 price.

Pittsburgh Penguins (-135) PLAY NOW

Betting on the NHL doesn't just add to the thrill of watching but also educates fans into the intricacies of both the game and online gambling. The money line is the simplest way to bet: bet the outright winner of the game. But with hockey specifically, this may not be the most lucrative bet to make. The puckline and over/under (team totals) are two other betting types that may be more suitable. 

The puckline is the like the NHL's version of the point spread. At +1.5, the Predators are a popular bet because they are given plenty of leverage. So long as they do not lose by more than a goal, they will cash the bet. In game 1's case, they failed to cash while Pittsburgh's -1.5 did. While harder to cash because the Penguins need to win by at least two goals, the payout is more sizable. 

Over/unders or team totals simply mean betting whether the total goals both teams score is higher or lower than the 5.5 the oddsmakers have set. Last game saw the over bet cash at plus money. Conventional wisdom dictates that given last game's unusual circumstances, the next game might be lower scoring but at this point taking a stab at the plus money bet might seem more reasonable.

Check out the many sportsbooks that all offer different odds and prop bets - side bets that don't involve the outcome of the game i.e. which team scores first. Some site signup bonuses also offer up to $200 as an added incentive. Be sure to read up on both the game and the sites.

Category : Online Betting News

Tag : nhl playoffs , Penguins , Predators , stanley cup finals

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