Free NHL Picks Contest ($100 Prize): Penguins Capitals

NHL Picks Contest: Pittsburgh Penguins at Washington Capitals

Z-Code Prediction

This is an interesting one for the latest round of our NHL Picks Contest. The computer has a five-star underdog pick for the Pittsburgh Penguins at the Washington Capitals. I have no such confidence, and there is some serious conflict in the algorithm. Either way this should be a fun one.

The Penguins have started to find their stride and are scoring again as their better players are finally starting to get healthy. The Washington Capitals are playing excellent hockey and are settling into a playoff position in the East. This could be a playoff preview.

I like this rivalry – even if I don’t buy into how much the NHL has hyped it up over the years. I’ll be avoiding this one because I agree that there is underdog value in the line but expect the Capitals to battle on home ice. Rather than place a wager, I suggest ...

Free NHL Picks Contest ($100 Prize): Pittsburgh Penguins at Washington Capitals

NHL Picks Contest: Pittsburgh Penguins at Washington Capitals

Wednesday, February 25th

There was a time where the NHL would have had you believe that Washington Capitals Vs Pittsburgh Penguins was the premier rivalry in hockey. Alex Ovechkin Vs Sidney Crosby, the concussions, the hatred, and two of the elite teams in the east… but the Washington Capitals never really lived up to expectations and haven’t delivered any playoff success during the Ovechkin era, and really, Crosby’s Penguins have disappointed since his injury-plagued seasons too. Right now, the Caps are playing great hockey and surging, one point ahead of a slumping Penguins team that is starting to get healthy again.

When these teams meet on Wednesday, who ya got? It’s still a wide open competition, with just three successful predictions last week. Remember, first to ten wins $100. It’s free to participate and easy. Simply comment on this post pinned to the top of our Facebook page to participate!

Here are our ...

NHL Picks: Chicago Blackhawks at Pittsburgh Penguins

NHL Picks: Chicago Blackhawks at Pittsburgh Penguins Again we find ourselves betting into home ice advantage and the right to last change, but again, I like the matchup and have high confidence in the Blackhawks. Chicago is one of the best teams in hockey. The Penguins are stumbling and lost in overtime just one night ago to their intra-state rivals.

I don’t see the Penguins bouncing back so easily. They’re sloppy defensively and without Letang here, while the Blackhawks have one of the deepest rosters in hockey and have for some time. Chicago had a travel day to prepare for ...

NHL Picks: Pittsburgh Penguins at Philadelphia Flyers

NHL Picks: Pittsburgh Penguins at Philadelphia Flyers First, let me draw your attention to our NHL Picks contest. Pinned to the top of our Facebook page, a $100 contest game is posted. Simply comment along to participate. It’s always a lot of fun, but it’s more fun when more people join in the action.

Now, let me draw your attention to my only play tonight. My system won on the Canucks last night, and now we roll into tonight’s game with a little money to play with for the week. I like the Pittsburgh Penguins, even on the road, in this battle ...

NHL Predictions: Pittsburgh Penguins at New York Rangers

NHL Picks: Pittsburgh Penguins at New York RangersMy hesitation here stems from betting on the road team in MSG in a divisional rivalry, but all other parameters fit my system and there remains some value in the line. As such, even though this is the New York Rangers at the Garden, and even though I sometimes hate the Pittsburgh Penguins, we move forward.

That said, -135 here looks beautiful. The New York Rangers have been sloppy and are dealing quite poorly with a few injuries. The goaltending has been suspect and they’ve lost four of five. Meanwhile, the Pittsburgh Penguins ...

2014 NHL Predictions: Rangers, Devils, Penguins in Metropolitan Division Preview

Football is going strong in week five, baseball is in the playoffs, and excitement is brewing for the best time of the sports calendar… that said, all I can think about is hockey. Here’s our first preview of the season… my personal favorite, the former Atlantic, the Metropolitan division.2014 NHL Predictions: Metropolitan Division Preview The Pittsburgh Penguins dumped one of their big three, the New York Rangers lost a ton of depth, the Philadelphia Flyers are again relying on Steve Mason to have career-best success, and my New Jersey Devils added a bunch of key pieces. Hell, even the New York Islanders have a goalie. It’s going to be a fun 2014 NHL season, so let’s get out divisional previews rolling with the Metropolitan division.

1. New York Rangers (101 points) – I think they’ve turned a corner in terms of sustainable success. They lost some cap hit players but nothing too important to their general scheme. They’ve got arguably the ...

NHL Playoffs Bracket Round Two: Penguins, Bruins, Blackhawks, Ducks

NHL Playoffs Picks, Round Two: Penguins, Bruins, Ducks, Blackhawks

Most of our bracket is still alive, and both Game Seven losses were destined to fall in the next round anyway so we’re in great shape if anyone followed for their office pools. We also hit three series lengths exactly, and would have had four if the Sharks pulled through. All in all we nailed the first round, but it only gets harder from here.

New York Rangers Vs Pittsburgh Penguins

Pittsburgh reminds me a lot of a cat playing with a mouse. Sure, they could kill it rather easily, but it’s more fun to come out of your net with a one-goal lead in the final 20 seconds, misplay the puck, go to overtime and lose on the first shot from the blue line. The cat often lets the mouse get away and rarely seems to care, but I’d rather be the cat than the mouse here. Pittsburgh has ...

NHL Playoffs: Penguins, Ducks, and Habs on Day One

NHL Playoffs: Penguins, Ducks, and Habs

My strategy in the NHL playoffs is an interesting one, but it’s led to successful predictions each year I’ve been a published handicapper. While NHL playoff match ups lend to progression-style chase betting, I choose my series winners and bet the series line as well as flat betting on every game across the entire series. We do this, of course, with varying levels of confidence.

The first installment of this strategy opens tonight. With low confidence we’re on the Habs to upset the Lightning in the first round. With medium confidence, limited by a lack of value in the lines, we’re on the Penguins and Ducks to win as well. The Ducks are my favorite series of the first round in the west.

Habs Lightning

I think the Canadiens have a defensive edge and more stability than the Lightning. Tampa has a solid offense, but I look for Montreal’s depth to shut them down. ...

NHL Playoffs First Round Picks and Predictions 2014

Atlantic Division

Boston Bruins vs WC 2 Detroit Red Wings Few teams have the depth of the Boston Bruins, which lends to their stability every season and particularly each postseason. They are anchored in goaltending and have sufficient defensive depth to make another great playoff run. The Detroit Red Wings have done a remarkable job this year battling injuries, but they’re simply inferior to the Boston Bruins. You can never right off a team like Detroit that fought so hard this season, but this series is Boston’s to lose.

Bruins in five

Tampa Bay Lightning vs 3. Montreal Canadiens I like Ryan Callahan. For a while, he was the only New York Rangers player I could respect. Putting him on a team with Steven Stamkos makes the Lightning very exciting for me. Ben Bishop is a big, talented goalie. Still, this is a very difficult series to predict. Carey Price is capable of taking over a game, and the Habs ...

NHL Picks 11/15: Nashville Predators at Pittsburgh Penguins

NHL Picks and Predictions 11/15 – Nashville Predators at Pittsburgh Penguins

The Penguins are healthy, grumpy, home, and playing a team built around their goalie who happens to be injured. If the Pens can’t snap out of this mini-funk they’re in right now against the Preds, they’re in trouble.

Pittsburgh has the most dynamic top line in hockey, and Letang might be the best defenseman in hockey. I think they’re balanced, and if they’re aggressive on home ice they should dominate this game. I think Pittsburgh is clearly the better team.

The Preds are a strong franchise and have a ...