If the Rangers-Bruins Don’t Go Under…

I quit.  Kidding of course, but if two teams aren’t better lined up to go under a 5.5-goal game total, I don’t know who they’d be.

The Rangers resorted to a defensive system at the beginning of December and it’s worked out well for bettors, letting the under play in 12 of their last 14 games.  They’re led by Henrik Lundqvist, who is performing as well as he ever has and boasts a stellar 11-3-2 record with a 1.34 GAA in his career vs. Boston.  The Rangers’ only real scoring threats include Marian Gaborik and at times, Michael Del Zotto and Brandon Dubinsky, but to expect anything offensive from the Rangers of late is expecting the world.  They’ve only scored 3 or more goals 3 times in the last 14 games and average 2.8 goals per game at home on the season.

Tuukka Rask is getting the nod for the Bruins and has played, at times, better than last year’s Vezina winner, Tim Thomas.  Rask is 10-3-2 on the season with a 1.85 GAA and 2 SOs – beat that.  The Bruins have excellent scoring potential down the middle but their wingers have played far below expectations.  As a result, they’ve gone under in 8 of their last 10 games and each of their last 5 road games.  They only managed 2 goals against a Flyers team that just allowed 7 to the Spezza and Alfredsson-less Sens.

Pick: Under 5.5 goals at -145 is still a bargain considering the line should probably be at 5.

Want to get crazy?  Look for the Sharks -210 to make it 9-straight tonight against the Kings.  Quick can’t do that again and the Sharks should understand the importance of this one.  Losing 5-4 to Ersberg last time the Kings were in town will still be fresh in their heads.

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