PREMIUM
Rogers' 10* NHL PLAY OF THE DAY >> 13-6 Overall L4 Days! Won 3 STRAIGHT in NHL!
(NHL) Pittsburgh vs. Carolina,
Total: 5.50 | 100.00 Under
Result: Loss
Total: 5.50 | 100.00 Under
Result: Loss
The set-up: The two-time defending champion Pittsburgh Penguins are struggling so far in their bid for a "Three-Peat." However, they are coming off a win that many of their players felt was their biggest of the season.The Penguins erased a two-goal deficit on three occasions and eventually prevailed 5-4 in a shootout over Columbus on Wednesday..Unfortunately, the afterglow of the come-from-behind victory did not last long. Goalie Matt Murray will be among four players sidelined when 19-16-13 Pittsburgh opens a three-game road trip at the resurgent Carolina Hurricanes on Friday night. 17-12-7 Carolina has turned things around since a four-game skid early in the month, winning three straight and six of seven to move into a tie with Pittsburgh (both clubs have 41 points) for sixth place in the Metropolitan Division (with two games in hand).
Pittsburgh: Star defenseman Kris Letang missed Wednesday's 5-4 shootout victory over Columbus. However, the victory came at a cost as Murray, forward Bryan Rust and defenseman Chad Ruhwedel suffered injuries, with the latter two expected to miss significant time. Murray (upper body) missed the first six games this month due to a lower-body injury and is listed as day-to-day but has been ruled out Friday along with Letang. Rust was listed as longer-term and Ruhwedel is week-to-week, both with upper-body injuries. Tristan Jarry, who started all six games when Murray was hurt, is 5-2-2 with a 2.43 goals-against this season and will get tonight's start.
Carolina: The Hurricanes' turnaround has been sparked by veteran goalie Cam Ward, who seemingly had been relegated to backup goalie status before winning five consecutive starts as part of a seven-game point streak (6-0-1) in December. He has started three in a row for the first time this season and surrendered just four goals. At the other end of the ice, the biggest boost for the Hurricanes during their successful run has been production on the power play. They have four power-play goals in a three-game span, following a five-game stretch without any power-play goals.
The pick:This is the first of four meetings between Pittsburgh and Carolina this season. The Penguins went 4-0-0 last season against the Hurricanes.Pittsburgh will arrive in Charlotte with the NHL's second-best power play (converting on 25.2 percent) and that unit will test Ward. I realize Jarry's numbers look fine but Pittsburgh likley can't wait for Murry to be get back between the pipes. The Over is a 10* play.
Pittsburgh: Star defenseman Kris Letang missed Wednesday's 5-4 shootout victory over Columbus. However, the victory came at a cost as Murray, forward Bryan Rust and defenseman Chad Ruhwedel suffered injuries, with the latter two expected to miss significant time. Murray (upper body) missed the first six games this month due to a lower-body injury and is listed as day-to-day but has been ruled out Friday along with Letang. Rust was listed as longer-term and Ruhwedel is week-to-week, both with upper-body injuries. Tristan Jarry, who started all six games when Murray was hurt, is 5-2-2 with a 2.43 goals-against this season and will get tonight's start.
Carolina: The Hurricanes' turnaround has been sparked by veteran goalie Cam Ward, who seemingly had been relegated to backup goalie status before winning five consecutive starts as part of a seven-game point streak (6-0-1) in December. He has started three in a row for the first time this season and surrendered just four goals. At the other end of the ice, the biggest boost for the Hurricanes during their successful run has been production on the power play. They have four power-play goals in a three-game span, following a five-game stretch without any power-play goals.
The pick:This is the first of four meetings between Pittsburgh and Carolina this season. The Penguins went 4-0-0 last season against the Hurricanes.Pittsburgh will arrive in Charlotte with the NHL's second-best power play (converting on 25.2 percent) and that unit will test Ward. I realize Jarry's numbers look fine but Pittsburgh likley can't wait for Murry to be get back between the pipes. The Over is a 10* play.
