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NHL Betting: Penguins Take Over First Place in the Atlantic
Kris Letang beats Kari Lehtonen, sending the Penguins to victory. (AP Images)
The Pittsburgh Penguins are in first place.
The high-flying NHL squad full of teenagers and 20-something-year-olds overtook the veteran-laden New Jersey Devils in the Atlantic Division with a 3-2 win over Atlanta on Sunday.
Rookie defenseman Kris Letang scored the only goal in the shootout to lift the Penguins at home. Pittsburgh also benefited from having goalie Marc-Andre Fleury back in net. It was his first start since Dec. 6 and he made 31 saves.
The Penguins paid -180 on the puckline (meaning a winning hockey bet of $180 would net $100) and the betting total fell just under 5.5 goals. Pittsburgh has 81 points, tied with Montreal for tops in the Eastern Conference.
With Sidney Crosby scheduled to return from an ankle injury this week, the Pens’ fortunes could even improve.
Against Atlanta, they surrendered a two-goal lead but recovered in the shootout to send the Thrashers to their seventh loss in a row. A shootout specialist, Letang is 5-for-8 in one-on-one attempts against goalies this season.
In other NHL action on Sunday:
New York Rangers 5, Philadelphia 4: The Rangers improved to 7-0-2 in their last nine as Brendan Shanahan and Nigel Dawes scored in the shootout round at Madison Square Garden. The Flyers three-game winning streak ended. New York was a -200 favorite.
Chicago 4, Vancouver 1: Led by Patrick Kane's three-point game (two goals, one assist), the Blackhawks bounced on a lackadaisical Canucks team to claim victory at the United Center. Chicago, which is 7-3 in its last 10, paid even money.