Core play - Rangers to win 4 units (risk 4.8 units or 5.0 units to win 4 units at ML price of -120 or 125)
Team totals plays - note that I am able to play NHL team totals two different ways at the two different books where I play (one where they include any OT goal in grading a team totals play, and one where they don’t)- so obviously, I play any team total Overs only at the book where they count an OT goal in grading the play, and play any team total Unders only at the book where they DO NOT count an OT goal in grading the play; but my below team totals plays say what to do in the more than likely event that your book includes any OT goal in grading team totals plays
Rangers team total Over 2.5 goals (incl any OT goal) to win 2.5 units (risk 3 units/win 2.5 at -120 odds)
Pens team total Under 2.5 goals (does NOT incl any OT goal) to win 2.5 units (risk 3.5 units to win 2.5 units at -140 odds); or if can only play team total Under including OT goal, then just to win 1.5 units (risk 2 units to win 1.5 units at -130 odds), AND increase your ML bet on Rangers to (win) 5 units
First period plays
Rangers first period ML (to have the lead after first period) to win 2 units (risk 2.3 units to win 2 at -115 ML odds) – a first period tie is a “push”/no action
Rangers first period puck line (to have the lead after first period), risk one unit to win 2 units at +200 odds and -1/2 goal – a first period tie is a loss on this one, so just one unit risk
Support for picks
General support
Last year’s Rangers playoff team, which is very similar to TY’s (same head coach and mostly same players, especially key players) made it to the Finals, and was a solid 6-4 in all games after a loss, including 2-1 on the road, compared to a lousy 1-6 after a win (1-4 away and 0-2 at home), not counting their game 6 elimination game win at home over Pens, which followed their game 5 win at Pitt (also an elimination game). So bottom line, based on the above, I believe the Rangers, which had the best overall record in NHL TY, are a solid play at -120 or 125 odds in tonite’s game 3 at Pitt, one they should win, after their “wake up call” home loss Saturday in game 2.
Pick specific support for first period picks – will post later (but prior to game) on my web site, where tonite’s big play on Rangers is a free pick.