Penguins vs. Lightning Odds
(TheSpread) – The Pittsburgh Penguins may have to make their run at the Stanley Cup without their top player when they begin their first round series with Tampa Bay on Wednesday.
The Penguins are the No. 4 seed in the East with 106 points on the season while Tampa Bay is the No. 5 seed with 103. Pittsburgh has the home ice but stars Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin are both out. Malkin won’t return because of a knee injury while Crosby is still out from a concussion suffered months ago.
Despite the injuries the Penguins are still the favorites to win the series according to oddsmakers from online sports book SBGGLOBAL.com as Pittsburgh has odds of -150 to win the series while Tampa Bay has odds of +120.
The Penguins went 49-25-8 this season to finish just behind Philadelphia in the Atlantic Division. The Penguins are 25-14-2 at home and 24-11-6 on the road. Pittsburgh won 8 of its last 10 entering the playoffs. Pittsburgh scored 238 goals and allowed 199.
Tampa Bay went 46-25-11 in the regular season to finish second in the Southeast Division. The Lightning scored 247 goals while allowing 240. Tampa was 25-11-5 at home this season and 21-14-6 on the road and the Lightning won 7 of the last 10 games to end the season.
In four meetings this season, the two teams split. Tampa scored 9 goals in the games while Pittsburgh posted 17. Pittsburgh took more shots in every game played.
Trends show that Tampa Bay is 1-4 in their last 5 games in Pittsburgh and 2-9 in their last 9 conference quarterfinal games.
In terms of injuries, Pittsburgh wings Dustin Jeffrey and Matt Cooke are both out. Jeffrey has a knee injury while Cooke is suspended for an illegal hit. Tampa Bay wing Ryan Malone is questionable for the series opener because of an undisclosed injury.
2011 Stanley Cup Playoffs First Round Odds – Penguins vs. Lightning
Pittsburgh Penguins -150
Tampa Bay Lightning +120
Penguins vs. Lightning Series Schedule
Wednesday, April 13 at Pittsburgh, 7:00 p.m. CBC (HD)
Friday, April 15 at Pittsburgh, 7:00 p.m. CBC (HD)
Monday, April 18 at Tampa Bay, 7:30 p.m. CBC (HD), VERSUS (JIP)
Wednesday, April 20 at Tampa Bay, 7:00 p.m. CBC (HD)
*Saturday, April 23 at Pittsburgh, TBD CBC (HD), VERSUS (JIP)
*Monday, April 25 at Tampa Bay, TBD CBC (HD)
*Wednesday, April 27 at Pittsburgh, TBD CBC (HD)
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