Free Nhl Picks - May 26, 2009

We are hitting 65% with our NHL pciks since the first week of May - good for +13.6 units. Today, we go with a pair of NHL Playoffs picks including a 5-unit selection!

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Today's NHL Hockey Picks:

Game: Pittsburgh at Carolina (7:30 PM Eastern)
Pick: 5 units on Pittsburgh -125 (moneyline) (risk 5 to win 4)

The Hurricanes played two exhausting seven-game series to get to the Conference Finals, survived, and moved on to face the Penguins. They seem to have hit the wall physically and emotionally, and facing a 3-0 series deficit could really just have done them in. They have been doubled-up by the Penguins on the scoreboard 16-8 in the series, and allowing 5.3 goals per game - hardly what you would consider playoff-caliber hockey. It is unusual to have a team in the Conference Finals that has a losing playoff record, but the Hurricanes enter here at 8-9. The Penguins have the offense in high-gear, and even though it is the playoffs where hard checking, and defense usually has their way, it hasn't stopped the Penguins from scoring three goals or more for nine-straight games. That includes 35 in their last seven, or netting the puck five times per game. The Penguins are 18-5 in their last 23 as a playoff favorite, while the Hurricanes stand just 6-18 in their last 24 as a dog of +110 to +150. The Penguins have broken the Hurricanes’ spirit, and this series ends tonight. The Penguins get the call.

I’m not sure what there is to add here, as I pretty much summed up the many facets of this game that make Pittsburgh the valued side. The puckline stands up to a lot of value as well. The Hurricanes are beaten emotionally and physically, and their spirit was broken at home as they are now down three games to none. The Penguins are getting five goals a game in their last seven, and over five in this series. The Penguins are getting nearly 10 more shots on goal a game in this series, and have gotten 40+ looks at the net in the last two. The offense is clicking and getting that many looks, which certainly opens the door to value on the puckline. I'll go Penguins on the puckline here as well.

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Check out the last five NHL Hockey Picks Newsletters:

NHL-Hockey-Picks-May-23-2009
The Penguins head to Carolina leading the series two games to none, and have had their way with the Hurricanes. The Hurricanes were not supposed to be here and the toll of the grueling 14 games it too...

NHL-Hockey-Picks-May-21-2009
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...

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 ...