NHL Playoff Picks: Sunday

NHL Sunday Playoff Picks

Saint Louis @ Minnesota 

Pick: Minnesota (-140)

OVER/UNDER: Under 5 (-125)

The losing team has been limited to 0 or 1 goal(s) every game of this series except the first game.  That stat really doesn’t mean anything to be honest, but I thought it was interesting.  The Blues went off for 6 goals in game 4 and all their fans thought this thing was over.  They thought the Saint Louis offense was finally clicking and Minnesota was done for.  Well, Game 5 featured the Wild on the road, manhandling the Blues 4-1 in their own barn.  This series now sits at 3-2 favoring Minnesota.  Tonight’s game will be played in Minneapolis and it’s tough for me to make an argument in the Blues favor.  Who are the Saint Louis Blues?  The low hanging fruit of analysis for this team is Tarasenko.  The budding superstar of the Blues’ organization has an offensive skill set capable of completely taking over a game.  When Tarasenko is on, all bets are off.  But this is fuckin’ Minneapolis;  The largest city in the State of Hockey.  Why did Parise and Suter go to a busted ass Minnesota team when they had their pick of the litter of NHL clubs?  Because its fuckin’ Minnesota.  They talk funny, they all know each other, they all endure winters that are almost indescribably cold (have you ever felt -30?), and above all, they all love the game of hockey.  How much does Minnesota love hockey?  Well they sell out a 20,000 seat arena for their high school hockey playoffs for every fucking round. I have all the confidence in the world in Parise and his boys from Minnesota to take care of bidness tonight and close this thing out.  This one’s for ‘Sota. This one’s for the hometown.  This one’s for the State of Hockey.  Wild roll at home in a low scoring affair.

Montreal @ Ottawa

Pick: Montreal (EVEN)

OVER/UNDER: UNDER 5 (-125)

I know the Ottawa faithful have dreams of an epic Game 7 win.  Tonight is Game 6 though.  Unfortunately for the Senators, the Habs are lethal and stingy.  Carey Price allowed 5 goals in game 5 while recording an extremely uncharacteristic .800 sv%. Has Ottawa cracked the code on Montreal and Carey Price?  No.  Unfortunately for Ottawa, Carey Price is still the best between the pipes.  And what do the best competitors do after they’ve been humiliated?  They bounce back with vengeance.  I know Ottawa will bring it, hard.  I know the Senators’ fans will be loud and proud tonight.  I know this Ottawa team will do every damn thing they can to extend this series another game.  But I believe in Carey Price.  He’s the best for a reason and the Habs live and die with his performances.  Tonight, Carey Price will push Montreal on to the second round and the Senators’ season will come to an abrupt end.