2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs Odds: Flyers vs. Penguins Game 1
Carrie Stroup here with your 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs odds for April 11, the Flyers vs. Penguins Game 1. All NHL Playoffs odds are available at Sportsbook.com here, offering up to $250 in FREE CASH when you open an online betting account today.
Season Series: Flyers won 4-2
Sportsbook.com Series Price: Pittsburgh -220, Philadelphia +180
Game 1 Line & Total: Penguins -175 & 5.5 over -130
Bitter in-state rivals square off in the most anticipated first-round series of the NHL Playoffs as the No. 5 Philadelphia Flyers take on the No. 4 Pittsburgh Penguins.
It’s a bit of a shame that these two Atlantic Division rivals have to meet in the first round, considering both have the depth and firepower to make a deep run through the playoffs—the Pens (3.3) and Flyers (3.2) rank first and second, respectively, in the NHL in goals per game. The Flyers won the season series, but that figure is misleading considering the litany of injuries the Penguins suffered throughout the season—none bigger than the concussion to captain Sidney Crosby (8 G, 29 A in 22 games). This will be the third playoff meeting between the two clubs since 2008, with the Penguins both times advancing to the Stanley Cup Finals.
Three Important Things to Watch for in this Series:
1. The Impact of Flyers Goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov
When the Flyers signed Bryzgalov to a monster nine-year, $51 million deal back in June, it was done with the expectation that he would be the elite goalie that finally put Philly over the top in the postseason. There will be enormous pressure on the Russian netminder to live up to his contract and be the “missing piece” to supplement Philadelphia’s dangerous offense and stout defense. But the Flyers could not have drawn up a tougher first round opponent than the Penguins—who have scored at will since Crosby returned to the lineup (4+ goals in 11 of 14 games).
2. The Depth of the Penguins
There’s no denying that, when healthy, the Penguins are the deepest and most talented team in the league at the forward position. No squad can compete with Pittsburgh’s depth up the middle, boasting three elite centers in Crosby, Evgeni Malkin (50 G, 59 A) and Jordan Staal (25 G, 25 A). The fact that Malkin, the NHL’s points leader, is the second-line center on the Pens speaks to just how scary this team is. But all three of these players have had their fair share of health problems over the past 18 months, as has sniper James Neal (40 G, 41 A)—currently listed as day-to-day with an undisclosed injury. Assuming they all stay healthy, it’s hard to imagine any team beating the Pens in a seven-game series.
3. Enough on the Blueline?
The Flyers blueline will face a ridiculously tough test trying to contain the high-octane Pittsburgh offense—and they might have to do it without some key defenders. Andrej Meszaros (7 G, 18 A) is still recovering from back surgery and trade deadline-acquisition Nicklas Grossman (lower body) is listed as day-to-day—not to mention the fact that team captain and shutdown d-man Chris Pronger is out for the year with severe post-concussion syndrome. Philly also has some injuries up front. LW James van Riemsdyk (7 goals in 11 postseason games in 2011) is still a couple weeks away from fully recovering from a broken foot, and Danny Briere (59 points in 57 playoff games with Philly) is out indefinitely with a back injury suffered at the hands of Penguins’ fourth-liner Joe Vitale. With so many (potential) missing pieces, it remains to be seen whether the Flyers can handle Pittsburgh’s relentless forecheck.
To the average fan, these odds might seem steep considering this is a 4-5 matchup, but it shouldn’t be surprising considering how scary this Penguins lineup is when healthy. With a healthy Crosby back in the lineup, Pittsburgh is the clear favorite to the win the Cup. It’s hard to imagine two teams hating each other more than the Penguins and Flyers, though, and that is sure to create a physical and grueling series—which usually works to even out any disparities in talent. If the Penguins stay disciplined and avoid taking retaliatory penalties against the league’s most penalized team, they have a clear advantage in this series—especially on the blue line.
- Carrie Stroup, Gambling911.com Senior Reporter
