RON RAYMOND SAID THE PITTSBURGH PENGUINS WOULD WIN THE STANLEY CUP AT +1415! Lay $100 to win $1415! Ron Raymond proved again why he’s Canada’s Top Hockey Handicapper and why the Offshore and Las Vegas Sportsbooks come to him for his Hockey Picks! Ron Raymond said the Pittsburgh Penguins would win the Stanley Cup and said most of his prediction was based on the teams 3rd and 4th line role players, the "sandpaper guys". Raymond says, “Max Talbot is showing hockey fans everywhere, he’s the new Claude Lemieux of the playoffs. Talbot was a junior hockey player here in my backyard in Gatineau, as he played with the Hull Olympiques and he’s just one of those guys that are a winner in life.” Mark my words, there’s a reason why Claude Lemieux came back to play one more year in the NHL, it was to pass the torch to Maxime Talbot.” What Ron wrote in April before the Playoffs Started Ron Raymond has been releasing his NHL Playoff predictions online since 1996 and Global Television Network in Canada came to his office one year to see who would win the Stanley Cup! In 2004, Ron gave out the Calgary Flames at 44-1 only to watch them get robbed in game 6 vs. the Lightning! Ron's first round UPSETS are becoming legendary predictions and are displayed below, along with Ron's Stanley Cup winning pick on the Pittsburgh Penguins over the Vancouver Canucks! 2009 NHL Playoffs - Stanley Cup Odds • Odds to win the Stanley Cup • Boston Bruins +645 • San Jose Sharks +425 • Detroit Red Wings +425 • Vancouver Canucks +1015 • Chicago Blackhawks +1725 • Calgary Flames +3050 • Washington Capitals +1085 • New Jersey Devils +1245 • Philadelphia Flyers +2250 • Pittsburgh Penguins +1415 • Carolina Hurricanes +1815 • Columbus Blue Jackets +4050 • Anaheim Ducks +3050 • St Louis Blues +6050 • New York Rangers +3050 • Montreal Canadiens +3550 The Pittsburg Penguins are my choice to win the 2008/2009 Stanley Cup and they will meet the Vancouver Canucks in the final. Pens are the best team in hockey as we speak and they are deep from line 1 to the 4th line. Ron Raymond’s NHL Playoffs Stanley Cup Predictions vs. Pittsburgh vs. Detroit: OVER 5.5 -115 (Game #2) Keys to selection: In my view, the Red Wings won Game #1 because of knowing their home ice and how the boards react behind the nets, because 2 of their 3 goals are what you consider “fluke goals”. In fact, the Penguins looked like the fresher team in the second and third period and the Red Wings received good goaltending to earn the victory. However, I look for Malkin to step up his game this evening and hopefully he buries that breakaway in Game #2 and look for head coach Dan Bylsma to come out with a new strategy to beat Babcock’s’ Red Wings. Sidney Crosby was outstanding in Game #1 even though he was held off the score sheet. If you’re going to bet on Game #2 of the Stanley Cup finals, bet on the game going OVER 5.5 -115. Meaning, you will need to wager $115 dollars to win $100 if this game should go over the 5.5 posted total by the Las Vegas Sportsbooks and the Offshore Sportsbooks. Keys to selection: When PITTSBURGH team played as a road team two back to back games Last 3 years coming off a loss; The OVER is 10-2-2 for the Penguins in this role the L3Y and 11-4-3 for the L5Y. Sports Legends Challenge Poker Tournament Sunday, May 31, 2009 May 31 7:05 pm (NBC) NHL Stanley Cup Game 2 (Det leads 1 - 0) Pittsburgh Penguins 5½ Detroit Red Wings -140 Hockey Betting Propositions NHL Stanley Cup Game 2 Props May 31, 2009 - Correct Final Score Prop: Penguins vs Red Wings - Correct final score Max wager $100 If you think you can guess the final score of tonight’s game, you could win some money. For example, if you think the Pittsburgh Penguins will win 4-2 vs. Detroit in Game #2, then wager $100 to win $1200. Pittsburgh 1 - 0 +2000 Pittsburgh 2 - 0 +1800 Pittsburgh 3 - 0 +1800 Pittsburgh 4 - 0 +2000 Pittsburgh 5 - 0 +3000 Pittsburgh 2 - 1 +1500 Pittsburgh 3 - 1 +1500 Pittsburgh 4 - 1 +1500 Pittsburgh 5 - 1 +2500 Pittsburgh 3 - 2 +800 Pittsburgh 4 - 2 +1200 Pittsburgh 5 - 2 +2500 Pittsburgh 4 - 3 +1800 Pittsburgh 5 - 3 +3500 Pittsburgh 5 - 4 +4000 Detroit 1 - 0 +2000 Detroit 2 - 0 +1800 Detroit 3 - 0 +1800 Detroit 4 - 0 +1600 Detroit 5 - 0 +2500 Detroit 2 - 1 +1400 Detroit 3 - 1 +1200 Detroit 4 - 1 +1000 Detroit 5 - 1 +2200 Detroit 3 - 2 +800 Detroit 4 - 2 +1200 Detroit 5 - 2 +2500 Detroit 4 - 3 +1500 Detroit 5 - 3 +3000 Detroit 5 - 4 +3000 Field +600 NHL Stanley Cup Game 2 Props May 31, 2009 - General Props Player to score the first goal in the game If player that is wagered on doesn't play in game wager is voided. Overtime counts towards wager. Johan Frantzen +800 Evgeni Malkin +800 Sidney Crosby +800 Henrik Zetterberg +800 Pavel Datsyuk +1500 Bill Guerin +1500 Daniel Cleary +1200 Marion Hossa +700 Ruslan Fedotenko +1500 Chris Kunitz +1500 Miroslav Satan +2000 Max Talbot +2000 Mikael Samuelsson +2000 Jiri Hudler +1200 Field +300 *Note: Phoenixsports.com member's login here...

Ron Raymond's Second Round Prediction's Bet all your playoff hockey games at Bookmaker.com and tell them Ron Raymond sent you and check out their great loyalty rewards program to receive great gifts. Plus, deposit $300 or more and receive get a 20% sign up bonus. If you're looking at betting on who will win the Stanley Cup, I'm still recommending the Pittsburgh Penguins at +400. For example, if you lay $100 at Bookmaker.com and the Penguins win the Cup, you will win $400 dollars. Plus, I like the Vancouver Canucks to represent the Western Conference and they are paying $715 for every $100 wager. Therefore, should Pittsburgh and Vancouver make the finals; you're guaranteed a $200 profit or a $515 profit. Make sure you check out Hockeypicks.com each and every day, as I'm currently on a 8-2-2 SU run the last 8 days with my members picks. (+165) (-195) Ron's Analysis: The Boston Bruins are in the same boat as the Vancouver Canucks and Detroit Red Wings; they are guilty of finishing off their opponent too early in Round #1. If there's one thing hockey players want to do during a tournament, they want to keep playing, as time off is not good for timing during the early games of a series. Being off this long, you sort of lose the momentum you received from the prior series and must start all over from scratch. However, for the Carolina Hurricanes, the way they won their last 2 games, they could be caught in a letdown situation in Game #1, but they have in my view, the hottest goalie in hockey the last 45 days. Carolina is 13-5 SU the last 45 days and goaltender Cam Ward is playing like he did when he won the cup in 2006. The Bruins can play any type of hockey; they can play a fast pace game and they can play a physical type game as well. However, the Bruins can't get caught up in a physical and scrappy type games, because you have guys like Lucic who can over due it and be vulnerable to taking stupid penalties and getting suspended like he did in the first round of the playoffs vs. Montreal. Boston strength is their defense, Chara is the key to the Bruins defense and guys like Ryder and Kessel will need to continue their scoring ways. At this point of the year, the Canes have the advantage in nets and they are the leagues most disciplined hockey team which will force Boston to win their games 5 on 5, as the Canes don't want the Bruins to use their great power play units. Take the Canes at +165. Ron's Prediction: Carolina in 7 games. (+100) (-125) Ron's Analysis: From a Marketing perspective, this will be the best Series of the Playoffs, as you have 3 of the greatest hockey players in the world on one sheet of ice. The Washington Capitals were not consistent in their series vs. the Rangers and were out played in the first and second period vs. New York in Game #7, but good goaltending won them that game. In fact, Capitals tough guy Donald Brashear missed Game #1, #2 and #7 and those were the Caps worst games, so I'm thinking from a psychological point of view, when the Capitals don't dress their team body guard, the Capitals are a totally different team, as you didn't see Ovechkin run around and start nailing people like he did in Game #3, #4, #5 and #6. Washington's goaltender Simeon Varlamov played decent, but it's tough to back a team with a unproven playoff goalie and clearly the edge goes to the Penguins in this department. The Penguins are deeper at the forward positions in my view and Mike Green seems to have taken too many hits in Game #6 and #7 and look for the Penguins to pound him during the first few games. The Penguins can match the Capitals at the forward and defensive position and they have the better playoff goaltender who can steal them a road game. Washington was 3-1 SU vs. the Penguins during the regular season, but things are different now that head coach Dan Bylsma is running the show. Great value on the Pittsburgh Penguins at +100! Ron's Prediction: Pittsburgh in 6 Games. (+240) (-300) Ron's Analysis: Ken Hitchcock was on a Toronto radio station last week and he was talking about his first round playoff experience for the Columbus Blue Jackets against the Detroit Red Wings and he gave the listeners some great insight. He stated one of the main reasons his team lost in 4 straight was the fact the gas tank was empty and the last 60 days was basically their playoff run and they had nothing left in the tank emotion wise to give the Red Wings a competitive series. Another factor he harped on was the size of the Red Wings forwards and the speed they have up front. He didn't realize how big guys like Hossa, Franzen and Holmstrom were and how they were able to turn it up a notch in the playoffs. As for the Ducks, they have what I like to call the “4 horseman” on the blue line; Whitney, Beauchemin, Niedermayer and Pronger. Anaheim slept walked the first ¾ of the season and have really turned the meter to go the last 45 days by going 14-6 SU in that time span. The Ducks were able to intimidate the Sharks with their physical play, but that's not going to fly against this veteran Red Wings team who will not back down from players like Pronger and Getzlaf. Plus, if guys like Corey Perry start running around with their elbows up like he did in Game #6 vs. the Sharks, he will get a quick wake up call. From a betting point of view, I cannot recommend you lay -300 to win $100 in this series, but I'm picking the Red Wings to win this series. Hillier is the big question mark in my view and the Ducks will need to get the first goal of the game if they intent to win this series. Bottom line, the team that scores first in each game, will win that game and they will need 4 games to win the series. Ron's Prediction: Detroit in 5 games. (+110) (-135) Ron's Analysis: The Vancouver Canucks have been the hottest team in the National Hockey League the last 90 days. In fact, the Canucks are 27-10 SU the last 90 days, 18-7 SU (Last 60 Days) and 14-5 SU (Last 45 days). Obviously, Roberto Luongo is the Canucks most valuable player, but its players like Burrows and the Sedins who played a great support role in Round 1, mostly because they've shown some grit to muck it out in their series vs. the Blues. Another key factor is Sami Salo, he's fighting a groin injury, but he was valuable to the Canucks at the blue line with his 4 points in 3 games. Beggars can't be choosers, but I'm sure the Canucks would have liked to finished off the Blues in 5 or 6 games, because now their “game timing” could be off in their first game vs. the Hawks. Chicago used their team speed and great goaltending to beat an injury riddled Flames teams and I'm still worried about their ability to play on the road vs. a defensive team like Vancouver. Nikolai Khabibulin is 6-16-2 SU vs. the Canucks in his career and Luongo is 9-6-1 SU vs. the Hawks and he's 19-5 SU at home. The last time these two teams met, the Canucks won 4-0 in a very high spirited affair and this series could resemble that last game which would make for good drama from the old lazy boy! In the end, it's going to boil down to the Canucks defense vs. the Hawks speed and inexperience. Plus, from a betting perspective, this is great value to bet on Vancouver at -135. Ron's Prediction: Vancouver in 6 games. 80% CLUB STATS (ATSDatabase.com) Updated as of: Friday, May 8, 2009 Here are today's 80% Club Stats from ATSDatabase.com. Abbreviation Summary (ATS) = Against the Spread (+1.5 and -1.5 Goal Spread) (SU) = Straight Up (O/U/P) = OVER/UNDER/PUSH When PITTSBURGH team Played as Home team as a Favorite - Last 3 years - After a non division game - Scored 3 or more goals FOR in their last game - Coming off a Home win as a Favorite. (ATS) 10-5-0 (SU) 13-2-0 (O/U/P) 7-8-0 When PITTSBURGH team played as a home team - Vs Eastern conference opponent - Total is 5.5 - Allowed 2 or less goals AGAINST in their last game - Coming off a 1 goal win. (ATS) 12-2-0 (SU) 11-2-1 (O/U/P) 9-5-0 When CAROLINA team played as a home team - Last 3 years - Coming off 1 game push. (ATS) 5-8-0 (SU) 9-4-0 (O/U/P) 10-1-2 When PITTSBURGH team Played as Home team as a Favorite - During the month of May - Vs Eastern conference opponent. (ATS) 5-8-0 (SU) 7-6-0 (O/U/P) 8-2-3 PITTSBURGH: When ANY NHL Team Played as Home team as a Favorite - Vs Southeast opponent - playing on Friday - Total is 5.5 - Allowed 2 or less goals AGAINST in their last game - Coming off a 1 game win. (ATS) 12-3-0 (SU) 12-3-0 (O/U/P) 6-9-0 *Get more NHL Stats against the spread at ATSDatabase.com. Today's FREE NHL Matchups Let our NHL stats and trends help guide you to a winning day; for a more detailed stats betting report, you have to check out the top stats site in the business at ATS Database, with over 10,000+ Stats and Trends produced daily! Today's NHL FREE MATCHUPS The Penalty Box Now, hockey fans can do their own NHL Team vs. Team past NHL Games searches. Example; How does the Toronto Maple Leafs do on the road vs. the Calgary Flames? The Answer is a click away! Try it now.....    1. NHL Hockey Database    2. NHL Strength of Schedule    3. NHL Hockey Streaks    4. NHL Cheatsheet    5. NHL Linemoves

Last Updated Article: Tuesday, February 10, 2009 **NHL BETTING ARTICLE** NHL Halfway Mark - Stanley Cup Prices If there's one thing you have to consider when buying Stanley Cup futures, do not let regular season play interfere with your NHL Playoff handicapping and learn to separate the two formats. Let's face it; regular season hockey and playoff hockey are two different animals. There's absolutely no comparison to be made, as there's hardly no pressure during regular season play, but each playoff game lost is one step closer to the golfing season. NHL playoffs is all about giving everything you've got on the ice and goaltending! Without defense and goaltending, you're chances of winning a Stanley Cup are pretty slim. Continue reading.... 65 Minutes of Hockey a Night The NHL Governors wanted parity in their league and by the looks of the close games in the first 86 games of the NHL season, they got it! I've never seen so many 1-goal games in all of my life following hockey. Read full article... NHL Season Wins What happened to the days where you either won or lost the game? Why do we reward a lost in hockey and give the team?s one point for an overtime lost? I?ve heard all sorts of reasoning on why the NHL has adopted their current system and I?m a strong believer of rewarding skill. Some people don?t like the NHL shootouts, but last time I look, the concept of sports is about scoring and players who have honed their talents should be rewarded in many facets.  NHL Season Wins Related NHL Hockey Articles NHL Article: NHL Coaches NHL Betting Article: NHL Futures Super Saturday: October 18th 2008 October 18th 2008 will be known as "SUPER SATURDAY" at Hockeypicks.com! In 13-years of Handicapping Hockey; Ron Raymond has never swept the board in the same fashion he did on Saturday. What a week for Ron; he went 6-0 on Tuesday Oct 14th, 4-1 on Oct 15th and went an UNBELIEVALBE 13-0 on Saturday! That's 23-1 in just 3 days work from the 4-time Champion handicapper. What a great week for Hockeypicks.com and we hope you were able to profit from this historic week of Hockey. In case you missed the picks and write up of SUPER SATURDAY, check out SUPER SATURDAY.