The Pittsburgh Penguins (29-13-5) visit the Detroit Red Wings (12-32-3) at Little Caesars Arena Friday for a 7:30 p.m. ET puck drop. We analyze the Penguins-Red Wings odds and lines, while providing NHL betting tips around this matchup.
Penguins at Red Wings: Projected starting goalies
Matt Murray vs. Jimmy Howard
Murray owns a 2.91 goals against average and .896 save percentage. The 25-year-old has posted a .915 SV% over two games this month; his last start was Jan. 10.
Howard has been plucked apart time and again over this season. The veteran netminder owns a .876 SV%. He’s logged a mere .850 figure over his last 12 games. Howard was pulled eight minutes (and three goals) into his last start, and his confidence has to be at rock-bottom. Running mate Jonathan Bernier is on the shelf until after the all-star break.
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Penguins at Red Wings: Odds, picks and betting tips
Odds courtesy of BetMGM; access them at USA TODAY Sports for a full set of today’s betting odds. Odds last updated at 10:45 a.m. ET.
Prediction
Pittsburgh 4, Detroit 3
Moneyline (ML)
The line here has been hammered toward Pittsburgh. So much so, it has gone from budget play on the Pens to a near same for the Wings. The lean is DETROIT (+185). A number like +190 would make that profit potential vs. odds of winning too much to pass up.
Puck Line/Against the Spread (ATS)
Pittsburgh is playing its second game of a back-to-back. The Pens lost 4-1 at the Boston Bruins Thursday. They went into Boston with a 13-8 road mark against the puck line. With Thursday’s loss, Pittsburgh is 12-4 straight-up since Dec. 12. Over the stretch, the Pens have won half their games by multiple goals.
Pittsburgh is 11-5 as a dog on the puck line. But lay off the Penguins (-1.5, +120).
Over/Under (O/U)
The Over is 7-2 over Detroit’s last nine home games, 13-5 over the last 18 Pittsburgh-Detroit games and 4-1 over Pittsburgh’s last five tilts as a road favorite.
With the two-sided goaltending situation and C Sidney Crosby being back for the Pens, the top-side of this play is costly. But it’s the best of the three. Take the OVER 5.5 (-143).
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