Game 3 Stanley Cup Finals: Detroit Red Wings at Pittsburgh Penguins

May 28, 2008 | By Adam McLean | Picks Articles Archive

franzen(1) The Pittsburgh Penguins can’t figure out how to score let alone get the puck on net. The Detroit Red Wings have cruised to a 2-0 lead in the Stanley Cup Finals and nothing is going to stand in the way of them hoisting the almighty Holy Grail. Tonight the Penguins try to win one at home when they host the Wings. Oddsmakers at SBGglobal.com don’t see an easy victory for the Red Wings as they are +100 roaddogs over the Penguins -110 with the over/under set at 5 goals. I don’t know what they’re smoking but, get your Stanley Cup Playoff Prediction in now at SBGglobal.com

GAME: Detroit Red Wings (68-25-2-5) at Pittsburgh Penguins (59-31-4-4)
DATE/TIME: Wednesday, May 28 - 8:00 PM EST
LINE: SBGglobal.com TOTAL: 5
PICK: Detroit +100

The Red Wings are on cruise control to another Stanley Cup. They figured out what no other team in the playoffs could do, slow down Crosby and Malkin. The Red Wings have frustrated the Penguins not with a neutral zone trap, but rather a neutral zone clamp. The Penguins often generate their offensive momentum by using their considerable speed to race through the neutral zone, but the Red Wings' wealth of defensive talent isn't allowing that to happen. Whenever Crosby gets the puck, it seems as if Henrik Zetterberg, Tomas Holmstrom and Nicklas Lidstrom swarm him within one stride. Evgeni Malkin looks tired and confused with only one shot in two games. Some other Penguins forwards already look worn down by Niklas Kronwall's open-ice hits. The few shots that get through are being turned aside by Chris Osgood. Osgood has recorded back to back shutouts and he now has his seventh of the playoffs. The Wings are 5-3 SU on the road in the playoffs where they’ve given up an average 2.37 GAG.

The Penguins haven’t scored a goal on Chris Osgood in 120 minutes of play and they’ve been outscored 7-0. When they get outscored on five on five hockey you know you’re in deep trouble. Evgeni Malkin hasn’t even had a shot on Osgood in five periods while Sidney Crosby had five shots last game. They went 0 for 3 on the power play, but they out hit Detroit 39-29, big deal. The Penguins are however good a home, they are 8-0 SU and they average 3.41 GAG. This stat can be thrown out the window because they haven’t faced a team like these Red Wings. Goalie Marc-Andre Fleury has seen his stats drop dramatically. He’s 12-4 SU with a 1.93 GAA, but in his last two games he’s more like 3.50 GAA. The Penguins winless, scoreless and mostly clueless to date against the more experienced, more polished Red Wings already face the unenviable task of winning four of the next five to win the series. Trying to win four of four would be almost impossible, and they know it. "It's a huge game," the Penguins' Gary Roberts said. "You go down 3-0 in a series against that team, it's going to be pretty tough."

Recent Trends to Consider

Red Wings are 10-1 in their last 11 Stanley Cup Finals games.
Red Wings are 5-1 in their last 6 road games.
Red Wings are 4-1 in their last 5 games as a road underdog.
Red Wings are 4-1 in their last 5 games as an underdog.
Red Wings are 4-0 in the last 4 meetings.
Penguins are 3-12 in their last 15 vs. Central.

The Bottom Line: I can’t fathom why oddsmakers favor the Pens. Haven’t they been following this series, Detroit is too much for the baby Penguins. Get your Stanley Cup Playoff Prediction in now at SBGglobal.com

Game 3 Stanley Cup Finals: Detroit Red Wings at Pittsburgh Penguins

More Picks Related Articles