Both Nashville and Ottawa lost both opening games on the road and both will be underdogs on home ice trying to get back into their respective first round matchups. Much like boxer needing a knockout punch, the Predators and Senators understand they have to win Game Three or for all intents and purposes there series is over. Nashville came in as the eight seed and was a +480 underdog to win four games against division rival and top seeded Detroit. The Predators, to a man believe they have been skating against more than just six opponents in the rink. In the opening contest, it was Nashville’s opinion the game winning goal should have been called offsides before the shot was ever attempted. In Game Two, a Predators goal was disallowed early in the contest and later, the Red Wings goal that gave them the lead, might have disallowed because of interference.
I’m more disappointed in the league not getting it right,” coach Barry Trotz said.
“The one reviewable way out of it is to say they blew the whistle. On audio, the whistle didn’t go until the net basically hit the back end boards, so to me it’s just from that standpoint we can get it right. That’s all. That wasn’t in our control, so we go forward.”
Nashville is pleased to be back home, with this being just their second game on home ice in 20 days. The Predators have won last three games in there own rink, with last loss to ….Detroit of course.
The Predators are +125 home money line underdogs with total at U5 at Sportsbook.com. Nashville is pathetic 0-8 as playoff dog, while the Red Wings are 8-0 ATS in road games after two straight wins by two goals or more this season.
For Ottawa is goes from bad to much worse. They have been handled with relative ease by Pittsburgh in first two games. They are without captain Daniel Alfredsson, C Mike Fisher, F Mike Kelly and now leading scorer Jason Spezza, was unable to practice Saturday or Sunday and is a question mark for most important game of the season for Senators. Ottawa is 2-6 ATS revenging two straight losses vs opponent by two goals or more and is a +130 dog to Pittsburgh team that has played with purpose after being eliminated by Ottawa in last year’s post-season. The Penguins understand they have to keep the foot on the gas, or they will give Ottawa life.
“They are going to be desperate but, for us, we have to match that,” Sidney Crosby said Sunday. “I think we have played with a lot of will and a lot of want the past couple of games. We just have to keep doing the same thing. … We won the games but we deserved it and we earned it.”
Pittsburgh is 13-4 ATS when playing with two days rest this season and figures to be sharp. Though Ottawa should be fired up playing before home fans, they are just 3-10 ATS in home games after allowing five goals or more.
Ottawa and Pittsburgh will start 7 Eastern and 30 minutes later on the Versus Network, Nashville hosts Detroit.
StatFox Power Line – Pittsburgh -243, Detroit -165
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