Do the Pens keep their playoff hopes alive?

286 miles or eight points separate the Detroit Red Wings from the Pittsburgh Penguins, with the second value naturally having the greater significance for our  Red Wings vs. Penguins tip. The Pens are still fighting hard to qualify for the playoffs, while this is already out of reach for Detroit.

At the latest since their 6:7 defeat against Buffalo, the Wings also have no mathematical chance of making the postseason. For them, it would only have been the cherry on top of the cake in another rebuild year – for the Penguins, on the other hand, play-off participation is almost mandatory.

Pittsburgh has reached the playoffs 16 times in a row, which is by far the longest streak in the NHL. With stars like Crosby and Malkin, missing the postseason would be a disaster.

That’s why we see the Pens under enormous pressure and with the greater need to win on Saturday. In the last few weeks, we have seen more often that these teams can give 5% more, which is why our prediction for Detroit against Pittsburgh is a success for the Penguins.

First face-off of this important game is on Saturday night at 19:00 in Detroit. The game can be followed live on Sky and on NHL.TV.

Detroit Red Wings – Statistics & current form

Playoffs adé is the name of the game for the Detroit Red Wings again this season – for the sixth time in a row by now. Nevertheless, the Wings are not entirely dissatisfied with this season, as it is considered to be another and possibly the last season of change.

General manager Steve Yzerman initiated this in Detroit in 2019 and designed it to last about five years. But that also means that the first fruits of the labour should be reaped in the coming year. It’s certainly possible with this young and talented squad.

Not far away from the top

While the Wings are only ranked between 14th and 20th league-wide in most statistics, they are not far from the final play-off places. Currently, nine points separate them from a play-off place – a number that can easily be made up within one season.

After all, seven of their nine top scorers this season are 26 or younger, so their best hockey years are still ahead of them. Among them is Moritz Seider, who ranks 5th on the internal list with 42 scoring points – and that as a defender.

Where is it still missing?

Even defensively, however, there is still some room for improvement. With 3.27 goals conceded per game, they are only the 20th best defence, which was evident again in the last few games. In the last eight games, they have conceded four or more goals every other time – even seven on Thursday against Buffalo.

Since this last tension should also be out defensively now after missing the playoffs, we expect them to concede a few goals again against Pittsburgh. For Wings vs. Penguins a bet on Pittsburgh as well as on over-points is thus quite possible.

Key Players:
G: Ville Husso
D: Jake Walman
D: Moritz Seider
LW: Tyler Bertuzzi
C: Dylan Larkin
RW: David Perron

Pittsburgh Penguins – Statistics & current form

When we look at the Pittsburgh Penguins’ first line, we see little change from their Stanley Cup triumphs a few years ago. Yet the Pens are in danger of missing the postseason this year. Why is that?

Well, for one thing, all the top stars are getting older – Evgeni Malkin, for example, is already 36. On the other hand, many of them no longer have quite the same bite that teams often have by the time they have their first, sometimes second, Stanley Cup success together.

Special teams only average

Best example of this is their Special Teams stats. They only rank a weak 17th in overtime play with a 21.1% success rate. They also have the same ranking in Penalty Killing with their 78.7% success rate.

These are figures that are only just enough, or not enough, for the playoffs. They are currently one point behind the coveted eighth place in the Eastern Conference and with a win they could regain this position at least in the short term.

With a remaining schedule against Chicago and Columbus, they don’t have the toughest opponents in front of them at the end of the season, which also speaks in Pittsburgh’s favour. It is all the more important for them to win the game on Saturday. If they manage to do that, we expect them to qualify for the play-offs successfully.

Pens should be highly motivated

This added motivational drive is also the Penguins’ biggest asset heading into Saturday. But since they lost their last game in Detroit just a week ago by a score of 4-7, they’ll be motivated to even that score anyway.

There is simply something more in favour of Pittsburgh, which is why the odds per Penguins are clearly more playable for Wings vs. Pens. Best even in combination with over-points to be expected. This matchup has averaged 10.0 total goals in duels this season.

Key Players:
G: Tristan Jarry
D: Brian Dumoulin
D: Kris Letang
LW: Jake Guentzel
C: Sidney Crosby
RW: Bryan Rust

Detroit Red Wings – Pittsburgh Penguins Direct comparison / H2H-balance

The duel already took place a little more than a week ago – with the better end for Detroit (7:4). The first duel in December also went 5:4 to the Red Wings, which is why, historically speaking, it would now be the Pens’ turn again.

After all, the Penguins won seven of the previous ten duels before this season. It was seven years ago that the Wings won a season series outright. In addition, there is nothing left at stake for Detroit – often a reason for a few percentage points less effort.

In this respect, the odds on the Pens are the better betting option for Detroit against Pittsburgh. Both in combination with over-points and with a handicap of up to -1.5 goals. Because we think it’s unlikely that the Wings will turn it up again like they did a week ago.

Detroit Red Wings – Pittsburgh Penguins Tip

The Red Wings no longer have a chance of making the playoffs, the Penguins do. That alone speaks clearly for Pittsburgh, because especially in the NHL on the last game days often the teams win, for which it is about more.

This makes the prediction on Pittsburgh + Over 5.5 our favourite betting option for Red Wings vs. Penguins. Because even the 5.5 or even 6.5 goals should be clearly exceeded. This season, this matchup is averaging a whopping ten total goals.

Pure over point bets or bets on a few Pens goals are also an option in this matchup. They should be able to cover the 3.5 goal mark either way given the importance of this game and the sloppy Wings defence. The bet on over 6.5 goals brings betting odds of 2.00 in the game Red Wings vs. Pittsburgh Penguins.