Pittsburgh Penguins at Detroit Red Wings Free NHL Picks & Odds
by Tony Sink - 3/19/2014
Thursday, March 20, 6:30 PM on NHL, ROOT, FSDT
Joe Louis Arena, Detroit, Michigan
For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here
The Penguins' Evgeni Makin is the leagues points leader with 41 points on the season and moved past the 600-point mark in his career in the win against the Red Wings the last time they played. He had a scary moment in the game when he got tangled up with Luke Glendening along the boards and injured his left leg. As he was helped off the ice there was no telling how bad it was.
In the last game, with the help of two power-play goals, the Penguins were able to pick up another win against the Red Wings 4-1. Jonas Gustavsson, playing for starter Jimmy Howard, let in three goals on 13 shots in a disappointing first and second period. He finished with 21 saves. The Wings got off to a good start when Niklas Kronwall got a shot off just inside the blue line that went off Sidney Crosby's stick and past Penguins goalie Jeff Zatkoff. Crosby made up for that with a goal of his own. On a power-play, 9:08 into the first, Crosby took advantage and scored. Then on another power-play a few minutes later, Makin also scored making the score 2-1 Pittsburgh.
Although the Red Wings out-shot the Penguins 14-4 in the second, they were not able to get one past the Penguins goalie. Then late in the period, Olli Maatta slapped one in to give Pittsburgh a two goal lead. The third would see much of the same with the Wings playing hard and putting on pressure but unable to score. Crosby added one more for the Penguins late into the third, essentially putting the nail in the coffin. Defenseman Deryk Engelland was ejected from the game after a high hit to Detroit forward Justin Abdelkader.
ATS Trends
Pittsburgh is 20-16 straight up on the road this season
Pittsburgh is 14-18-4 against the over/under on the road this season
Detroit is 14-20 straight up at home this season
Detroit is 14-15-4 against the over/under at home this season
Injuries to Watch
Pittsburgh
12/23/13 RW Pascal Dupuis Knee out for season
02/25/14 RW Beau Bennett Wrist expected to miss another 3-4 weeks
02/25/14 RW Chris Conner Foot out 4-6 weeks
02/21/14 D Paul Martin Hand expected to miss a month
02/07/14 D Kris Letang Heart out indefinitely
Detroit
03/19/14 D Jonathan Ericsson Finger is downgraded to expected to miss 10 days
03/18/14 GO Jonas Gustavsson Groin questionable Thursday vs Pittsburgh
03/18/14 LW Justin Abdelkader Leg expected to miss 2 weeks
03/15/14 RW Tomas Jurco Ribs expected to miss 2-4 weeks
03/10/14 C Joakim Andersson Foot out indefinitely
03/06/14 C Stephen Weiss Hernia out indefinitely
03/05/14 C Pavel Datsyuk Knee expected to miss 3-4 weeks
03/04/14 RW Daniel Cleary Knee out indefinitely
03/04/14 C Darren Helm Concussion out indefinitely
02/21/14 LW Henrik Zetterberg Back out for regular season
Tony's Pick: Take Pittsburgh
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