Sports Betting Overview
To say that the sports world is still reeling from the 3-0 series deficit that the Pittsburgh Penguins are experiencing against the Philadelphia Flyers is a massive understatement. When the NHLseason was winding down, the Penguins were fast becoming the odds-on favorites to win the Stanley Cup. The online betting sites got even more interested inPittsburgh when captain Sidney Crosby made his successful return to the ice after over a year of concussion troubles. But a familiar ghost started haunting the Penguins when the playoffs began, and it is something thatPittsburgh must look into fixing for next year. Goalie Marc-Andre Fleury has been a playoff disappointment for yet another playoff run.
When the Flyers brought in goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov in the offseason from Phoenix, the fans in Philadelphiawere already celebrating a Stanley Cup victory. But the pay per head sportsbook experts were a little wary of Bryzgalov, and their fears were realized as the season wore on. Bryzgalov is inconsistent and eccentric. He did not play in the Winter Classic because it was too cold. Throughout the game, the television coverage would show him on the bench wrapped in a blanket with a pot of tea. Bryzgalov has been able to come through forPhiladelphia in the playoffs. But he is getting a lot of help from Fleury in all of his playoff wins.
Pittsburgh Penguins
The Pittsburgh Penguins’ goaltending has given up eight goals in two of the three games in this series so far. The truly frustrating thing for Pittsburghis that the Flyers are not bombarding the net with shots. The sad truth is that Fleury is playing poorly in the playoffs again. The other negative side effect to Fleury’s play is that it is disguising the fact that Bryzgalov is playing a terrible series as well. While Fleury and backup Brent Johnson were giving up 16 goals in two games, Bryzgalov was giving up nine. A review of past Stanley Cup champions shows that the Flyers cannot win with that kind of goaltending.
Philadelphia Flyers
The Flyers managed to exploit the one area wherePittsburghis weakest – in net. When the pressure is on, Marc-Andre Fleury folds like a tent. The Flyers are actually doing a good job of shutting down Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby during this series, but it is the other Penguins that are causing problems. The Flyers are sloppy in their own zone and thePhiladelphiatransition game is disorganized. But all of that is being covered up by the play of thePittsburghgoaltender. IfPhiladelphiawants to get past the second round of the playoffs, it is going to need to come up with an all-around solid effort in game four.
The Bottom Line
NHL fans are still trying to figure out how the Penguins are in a position to get swept by the Flyers. The truth is that the Penguins put itself in this position by not playing strong defense and by getting weak playoff goaltending. The Penguins cannot ignore the playoff shortcomings of its roster any more. IfPittsburgh wants to make a serious playoff run, some changes will need to be made. But all of that will not matter in this series.
Pick: Philadelphia Flyers
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