Pittsburgh at Montreal

The Pittsburgh Penguins are making a case that they are the team to beat this season in the NHL. Pittsburgh has had a strong team for quite a few years, and they have shown the propensity to get hot and stay hot, and tend to go on extensive runs when they do. They are on one right now, and aside from a hiccup in New York against the Rangers, the Pens have been flawless in their other nine games surrounding the loss. They have been immense in front of the net, as the nine wins have shown their opponent generating little or nothing, recording three shutouts, and three games of allowing a single goal. Montreal has played well, posting a 14-4-1 mark on the season. This meeting could be a preview of the Eastern Conference Finals, so the intensity level should be kicked up a notch on both sides, and a hard-checking, defensive-oriented game is more likely in order. The Canadiens have won six straight of their own, allowing 1 or fewer goals in five of them. A sure sign of trouble for Montreal is the fact that the Penguins are 61-24 in their last 85 games after allowing 2 or fewer goals in their previous game as well as 76-36 in their last 112 following a win. Pittsburgh has played five straight to the UNDER on the rod vs. a team with a home winning percentage of greater than .600, as the defense shows up for the big games. Take the hot hand Pittsburgh and the UNDER in this one.