Today's official free NHL tips are powered by one of my NHL betting systems: Cubes of the Hour on Offense. Let me take a moment to explain the rules of this system.
If the team playing abroad has scored four or more goals (not necessarily wins) in each of their three previous games, you must bet against them. Adhering to these rules has resulted in significant profits over many seasons in the past.
Before today's game, the Penguins had scored seven goals against the Flyers. They had previously scored a total of four goals against the Canadians. Three games back, they scored four goals against the Islanders. Therefore, according to the rules of the “Clubs of the moment in attack” betting angle and given the fact that they form the visiting team well today, we have to eliminate them.
That's why my official pick for today, Tuesday, February 27th, goes to the Vancouver Canucks. They will host Pittsburgh at Rogers Arena.
The Canucks will arrive fresh and fit after ending a four-game losing streak with a 3-2 win over the Boston Bruins on Saturday night. It definitely lifted their spirits and they will be in a good mood today.
Meanwhile, the Penguins are coming off two straight wins against the Habs on Thursday and the Flyers on Sunday. Although these victories are nice, they were achieved against weaker opponents as Montreal is not a strong team. So I feel like Philadelphia could come back down to earth after a strong start to the season.
The Canucks have a lot to play for right now. They are seeking their first Pacific Division title and lead that division with 82 points, 11 ahead of Vegas. To get to this stage they need to keep winning.
Vancouver has had an exceptional season so far, which is reflected in their 38-16-6 record. They have created a fortress at home that all visiting teams fear. The Canucks have been nearly unbeatable at home and their 20-5-2 record at Rogers Arena proves that.
The Penguins, on the other hand, were happy with an away record of 11-11-4. The last time these teams met, they were also beaten 4-3 by Vancouver.
The Canucks have been an offensive force this season, averaging 3.6 goals per game and averaging just 28 shots on goal. That's an impressive conversion rate.
In order for the Canucks to defeat the Penguins, they will need to use full offensive power to overcome Pittsburgh's stout defense. They rank third in the league in goals allowed and have allowed an average of just 2.7 goals per game.
However, it should be noted that Vancouver's defense was also good. They rank seventh in the league in goals allowed per game.
Thatcher Demko should start between the posts for Vancouver. This man has been super impressive all season and his stats prove it. He played 44 games with a total of 31 wins and 13 losses, scored 2.47 goals per game and posted a solid .917 save percentage.
On the other hand, the Penguins will likely start Alex Nedeljkovic at goaltender. Despite the limited opportunities he's had this season, he's also been solid. However, it could be a difficult task for him to play in a tough environment like Vancouver.
This should be an entertaining duel between two motivated teams. Vancouver is looking to win its first Pacific Division title, while the Penguins are looking to force a place in the playoffs. They are seven points behind Tampa Bay and in last place among teams drafted in the East. Despite the recent minor setback, the Vancouver club looks set to be a little too strong on the ice tonight and take another step towards their holy grail of becoming Pacific champions.