Hockey Betting Pick - May 21, 2009

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Today, we are back on the NHL Playoffs ice with a pair of picks including a 5-unit play.

Today's NHL Hockey Picks:

Game: Carolina at Pittsburgh (7:30 PM Eastern)
Pick: 5 units on Pittsburgh -185 (moneyline) (risk 5 to win 2.7)

The Pittsburgh Penguins continue their quest to get back into the Stanley Cup Finals, where they lost to the Red Wings a year ago. The Penguins are playing well at home where they have claimed victory in 12 of their last 15 games. Carolina is the team that isn't supposed to be here, but fought their way through two grueling seven-game series’ to get here, and I think that is going to take its toll on them in this series. The Hurricanes are here, but just 8-7 in the playoffs and being outscored through the 15 games. They are just 6-10 in their last 16 on the road. They were out shot in the last two periods of game one by 22-13, and I expect them to begin to wear down midway through this one again. The Penguins have thrived in this role posting a 26-7 mark when favored in the -151 to -200 range, as well as going 17-5 as a playoff favorite in their last 22 playoff games. They are also 48-19 against a team with a losing road record. The Hurricanes have not fared well in Pittsburgh recently, where they are just 1-5 in their last six here. I'm going with the Penguins in this one.

I like the Penguins in this spot on the moneyline, but the puckline presents some value as well. The Penguins have been scoring well at home as they have produced three goals or more in nine of their last 10, an essential ingredient when considering a puckline play. They have also done a great job holding opponents down on home ice as they have allowed two goals or less in 17 of their last 29 home games, or 59% of the time. Carolina has scored two goals or less in more than half of their playoff games thus far, so I will go with the Penguins on the puckline here as well.

NHL Hockey Picks Resources:

• View our updated NHL hockey pick.
• Read our NHL against-the-spread records here.
• View our sportsbook reviews NHL here.
• Hop over to our NHL blog here.
• Read our 2008 NHL prior pick season results here.
• Take a look at our hockey odds lines and spreads here.
• View NHL hockey Game Preview here.
• Check out our updated NHL hockey gambling philosophy .

Check out the last five NHL Hockey Picks Newsletters:

NHL-Hockey-Picks-May-18-2009
The Pittsburgh Penguins are now one series away from returning to the Stanley Cup Finals, and open the series at home vs. Carolina. Pittsburgh opened their series at 0-2 with the Caps, but ran off fou...

NHL-Hockey-Picks-May-14-2009
The Detroit Red Wings look to continue their quest for consecutive Stanley Cups as they conclude their series with the Anaheim Ducks at home. The series is even at three games apiece, and the winner m...

NHL-Hockey-Picks-May-13-2009
It all comes down to one game for the Capitals and the Penguins, who have locked up in a dead heat at three games apiece through six. All you have to do is look at where both these teams came from to ...

NHL-Hockey-Picks-May-12-2009
I’m not sure many expected this Hurricanes’ team to go up 3-1 in the series vs. the Bruins, and they now get their first attempt to close out the series at home up three games to two. The ...

NHL-Hockey-Picks-May-11-2009
The Pittsburgh Penguins dug themselves a big hole to open this series against the Capitals as they dropped the first two in Washington and were saddled with a 2-0 deficit. They have rebounded nicely b...