Red Wings vs. Penguins prediction: NHL odds, picks, best bets
The Detroit Red Wings have quietly started the season quite well.
They have won two of their first three contests, entered Wednesday ranked third in the NHL in goals scored (13), and their big offseason acquisition, Alex DeBrincat, has three goals and five points in his first three games in Motown.
It’s only been three games, but the Wings were desperate for some consistent offense in 2022-23 and if this is a sign of things to come it could propel Detroit to exceed expectations in what may end up being a wide-open Atlantic Division.
Like the Wings, the Penguins dropped their first game of the season before winning back-to-back contests to get to 2-1.
Pittsburgh has had no issues creating offense, but the defense does still have some questions.
The Penguins were able to put the clamps down on Washington in a 4-0 win, but they did allow too many high-danger scoring chances against the Blackhawks and Flames on either side of that win against the Caps.
Pittsburgh’s defensive struggles were well documented last season.
And while the Penguins should improve in that department over the course of the campaign, it may take some time for the blue line — which added Erik Karlsson and Ryan Graves in the offseason — to build chemistry and find their footing.
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Detroit’s defense, too, is a work in progress and should have its hands full with Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and a Penguins offense that has had a strong start to the season.
Both teams have had some strong performances in goal, but no matter how the goaltending matchup shakes out, it shouldn’t scare bettors off backing the over in a matchup between two suspect defenses going up against in-form offenses.
The play: Penguins-Red Wings over 6.5 (-110, BetMGM)
