Pittsburgh Penguins at Minnesota Wild Free NHL Picks & Odds
by Tony Sink - 4/4/2014
Saturday, April 5, 8:00 PM on ROOT, FSN
Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul, Minnesota
For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here
The Pittsburgh Penguins have had a lot of easy wins this year, but it was pretty surprising that they were able to beat the Minnesota Wild 5-2 the last time they played each other. Both teams should be in the playoffs this season, so the Penguins' domination certainly sent a message throughout the league.
Chris Kunitz got the Penguins off to a great start by scoring just 49 seconds into the contest to notch his 19th goal of the season. Pascal Dupuis and Sidney Crosby assisted on the goal, which was the only one scored in the first period.
In the second period, Brandon Sutter, Matt Niskanen and Chris Kunitz scored three straight to give the Pens the 4-0 lead. Jason Pominville scored off of an assist from Nino Niederreiter midway through the period to get one back for the Wild.
Three minutes into the third period, Dany Heatley got Minnesota back to within two, but Pittsburgh's Olli Maatta was able to score an insurance goal for the hosts to put the Wild away.
Maatta and Niskanen finished the game with a goal and an assist apiece for the Penguins, who out-shot the Wild 36-26 in the win. Goalie Jeff Zatkoff finsihed the game with 24 saves and a .923 save percentage.
Wild goalie Niklas Backstrom had an okay game, stopping 31 of the Penguins' 35 shots.
ATS Trends
Pittsburgh is 21-17 straight up on the road this season
Pittsburgh is 15-19-4 against the over/under on the road this season
Minnesota is 23-14 straight up at home this season
Minnesota is 11-17-9 against the over/under at home this season
Injuries to Watch
Pittsburgh
12/23/13 RW Pascal Dupuis Knee out for season
04/03/14 D Paul Martin Hand probable
04/01/14 C Joe Vitale Undisclosed out indefinitely
03/29/14 C Marcel Goc Foot expected to miss 3 weeks
03/25/14 C Evgeni Malkin Foot expected to miss 2-3 weeks
02/25/14 RW Chris Conner Foot out 4-6 weeks
02/07/14 D Kris Letang Heart out indefinitely
Minnesota
04/03/14 C Mikael Granlund Concussion questionable
04/03/14 RW Nino Niederreiter Concussion probable
04/02/14 GO Darcy Kuemper Upper Body questionable
03/26/14 D Keith Ballard Groin out indefinitely
03/23/14 D Clayton Stoner Knee out indefinitely
03/12/14 LW Jason Zucker Quad out for season
03/05/14 GO Niklas Backstrom Abdominal out for season
01/06/14 GO Josh Harding Illness out indefinitely
Tony's Pick: Take Pittsburgh
Get $60 worth of FREE premium member picks. No Obligation. No Salesman. No Credit Card. Fast Sign up with Instant Access Click Here
Read more articles by Tony Sink
Get all of Tonight's Free NHL Picks.
Get all of Tonight's Expert Expert NHL Picks.