GAME 4: Pittsburgh Penguins at Philadelphia Flyers

May 15, 2008 | By Ben Chaisson | Picks Articles Archive

The Pittsburgh Penguins have a chance to complete their second series sweep if they can get past the Philadelphia Flyers tonight, in Philly. The Penguins lead the Eastern Conference best of seven series 3-0. Oddsmakers at SBGglobal.com have the Penguins as -180 moneyline favorites over the Flyers +160 with the over/under set at 5.5 goals. Get your NHL Playoff Prediction in now at SBGglobal.com, where players play!

GAME: Pittsburgh Penguins (58-28-4-4) at Philadelphia Flyers (50-35-6-6)

DATE/TIME: Thursday, May 15 - 7:30 PM EST

LINE: SBGglobal.com TOTAL: 5.5

PICK: Philly +160

The Penguins were regular season underdogs when playing in Philly where they were 0-4 SU. In their first playoff road game, in Philly, they crushed the Flyers 4-0 SU as 120-moneyline favs. Ryan Whitney and Marian Hossa each scored in the first period, thanks to assists from Sid the Kid, while Ryan Malone and Hossa banged one in during the third period. The Penguins are now 11-1 SU in the playoffs, 4-1 SU on the road and 6-0 SU on home ice. They are averaging 3.58 GAG overall, 3.20 GAG on the road and 4.00 GAG on home ice. Goalie Marc-Andre Fleury has been stellar in net, he’s 11-1 with a 1.74 GAA. He’s allowed 21 goals overall and he’s recorded two shutouts. On the road he is 4-1 with a 1.80 GAA. The Pens have shut down the Flyers offense by stepping up their defense. "Defense wins championships," said 6-foot-7 defenseman Hal Gill, brought in at this year's trade deadline. "If we keep playing well defensively, we have the firepower and it's going to be there." The Pens are 3-0 as favorites.

The Flyers need more out of their offense. For a team that averaged 4.00 GAG against Montreal in five games, they aren’t getting it done against the Pens. They’ve averaged 1.60 GAG in three games for a 0-3 SU record. They went 4-1 SU at home in their first two series and they’ve dropped their first Conference Final to the Pens. Goalie Martin Biron is 8-7 with a 2.84 GAA, he is 4-2 at home with a 3.00 GAA. The Flyers are trying to do that while facing long odds. Only the 1942 Toronto Maple Leafs and the 1975 New York Islanders have erased 3-0 deficits and won series. Philadelphia took to the practice ice Wednesday with new lines. Trying to maximize their offense, Mike Richards will move up to play with Danny Briere, who has struggled this series alongside Vinny Prospal. "Danny and I have had success on the power play," Richards said. "At the beginning of the year when we were put up together it seemed like we had some chemistry. We've got to find ways to get to the net, get more pucks to the net and find them. Hopefully, we can do that together."

Recent Trends to Consider

Home team is 9-1 in the last 10 meetings.
Penguins are 1-4 in the last 5 meetings in Philadelphia.
Flyers are 6-1 in their last 7 games following a home loss of 3 or more goals.
Flyers are 5-1 in their last 6 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
Flyers are 9-2 in their last 11 home games.
Over is 12-3 in the last 15 meetings.
Over is 8-2 in the last 10 meetings in Philadelphia.

The Bottom Line: Philly can’t go out like this, they just can’t. They are going to come out harder and faster with focus on hitting Crosby and Malkin. Get your NHL Playoff Prediction in now at SBGglobal.com, where players play!

GAME 4: Pittsburgh Penguins at Philadelphia Flyers

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