NHL Saturday 3 Game Parlay – Crosby in Action

NHL Saturday Three-Game Parlay 

Game 1 Preview: Ottawa Senators at Montreal Canadians 

Not exactly sure who Mike Brodeur is, but he’s making his mark in Canada’s capital. The goalie made 32 saves for his first career shutout on Thursday over the Rangers, ending the Senators five game losing streak.

Ottawa has been hard-pressed to score since losing Alfredsson and Spezza, but with Brodeur in net they may not have too. In two games this season, Martin’s distant cousin (it’s true, look it up) has stopped 54 out of 55 shots. Not bad at all.  

The Canadians are coming off a solid 5-3 win over Dallas on Thursday. That win coupled with a Flyers loss vaulted Montreal back into eighth spot in Eastern Conference. Some of that is contributed to the acquisition of Benoit Pouliot. A bust in Minnesota, Pouliot has found his game in Montreal. In 10 games he has five goals while skating on the top line with Scott Gomez and Brian Gionta. Gomez has 13 points in the 10 games with Pouliot.  

Pick: Montreal Canadians 

Game 2 Preview: Buffalo Sabres at New York Islanders

The Sabres are one of the league’s hottest teams right now. They’re on a 13-2-3 run and are undefeated in regulation in their past nine. Ryan Miller has won six straight and continues to lead the NHL in save percentage and goals against average. Buffalo is in the middle of their longest road trip of the season (seven games), so their production is expected to slow down. But it’s extremely hard to bet against a team this hot with a goalie that good, regardless if they’re on the road or not.     

New York is coming off one of their most lopsided wins of the season, a 6-0 squashing of the Red Wings. The Islanders, with their incredibly young team and sometimes questionable goaltending, find themselves right in the middle of the fight for 8 th place in the Eastern Conference. They’re not quite ready to make the leap just yet, but this season has been a humongous step forward in the right direction for the once-struggling franchise.  

Pick: Buffalo Sabres 

Game 3 Preview: Pittsburgh Penguins at Vancouver Canucks

It didn’t seem like it could really happen, but Sidney Crosby may be having his most successful offensive season ever. This week Crosby hit 30 goals on the season, leading the league. Although Crosby’s offensive abilities have been long documented, he’s never been able to score this many goals this quickly. With Evgeni Malkin stuck in a slump, it couldn’t have come at a better time. That’s why he’s the Captain.  

The Canucks are coming off a tough 5-2 road loss to the Minnesota Wild. Alex Burrows scored one of those goals, and has been a beast on offense. In six January games, the left winger has 10 goals, including two hat tricks. It hasn’t hurt that he’s playing on the top line with the Sedin twins, but it must be comforting for Vancouver fans to see someone succeeding so well with the twins after so many people had faltered in the past. That line will go a long way in determining how far Vancouver goes this season.  

Pick: Pittsburgh Pengiuns