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With a May 2 showdown, the Penguins vs. Capitals series was already getting the most betting action outside of the Kentucky Derby at Bookmaker.com heading into Friday. And it was the Pittsburgh Penguins getting the most bets in the series with even odds compared to the Capitals at -120.
Washington conquered the Rangers on Tuesday and, as a result, the Capitals are heading to the second round of the Playoffs for the first time in more than a decade.
It's Washington's first series victory since the 1997-98 season, when it reached the Stanley Cup finals. The success must feel particularly sweet to reigning league MVP Ovechkin and the 15 other players on the Capitals a year ago, when they also trailed 3-1 in the first round, and also forced a Game 7 at home -- only to lose to Philadelphia in overtime.
Sergei Fedorov scored the game-winning goal with 4:59 remaining and became the oldest player to score a game-winning goal in a Game 7 (39 years, 136 days). It was Fedorov's first goal of the series, third career goal in a Game 7 and 12th career playoff game-winning goal.
Meanwhile, Pittsburgh became the second Stanley Cup final loser from the preceding season to advance to the second round in the last 12 years. Dallas did so in 2001. Pittsburgh has been waiting nearly a week to see who they will be playing.
"This is going to be a good series," says Don Shapiro of Gambling911.com. "But also these are two of the biggest markets and this is one of the main reasons why we are seeing so much betting coming in on the Penguins vs. Capitals series."
Most interesting is that this series is getting the most action even though it does not commence for another two days (Saturday May 2).
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Ian Lamb, Gambling911.com
