The struggling Detroit Red Wings host the Nashville Predators tonight, Friday Mar 05, as the Wings must start winning. Three done and three more to go between these Central Division foes. The Wings lead 2-1 over the Preds. NHL oddsmakers at SPORTSBOOK.com have the Red Wings as -200 moneyline favs over the Predators (+170) with the over/under set at 5.5 goals . Be sure to get your Nashville Predators vs Detroit Red Wings NHL Pick in early at SPORTSBOOK.com
The Predators (35-23-2-3) have won six of their last ten games and two of their last five away from home. They are 17-12-1-2 on the road where they average 2.81 GAG and allow 2.94 GAG. They recently beat L.A. 4-2 on home ice. They got goals from Jean-Pierre Dumont, Jason Arnott, Marcel Goc and Jerred Smithson. Goalie Pekka Rinne stopped 20 of 22 shots and is 5-5 in his last ten with a 3.00 GAA. Overall he’s 22-12-4 with a 2.79 GAA and a .901 SVPCT. The Predators had five players in the Olympics and they’re still playing at the level you expect one to play at in the world’s best hockey tournament . Newcomer Denis Grebeshkov (Russia) made an immediate impact, recording a goal and an assist against Edmonton. Blueliners Shea Weber (Canada) and Ryan Suter (USA) picked up a goal and an assist respectively while Marcel Goc (Germany) scored what proved to be the game-winner in a 4-2 triumph over the Kings on Thursday. The Preds picked up forward Dustin Boyd and he’ll see some action tonight. He can play all three positions up front and can help kill penalties as well. GM David Poile went so far as to call him a "Swiss Army knife."
The Red Wings (29-22-4-8) have dropped six of ten and three of their last five at home. They are 16-9-2-3 at home where they average 2.57 GAG and allow 2.27 GAG. They recently lost to Vancouver 3-6 at home. They got goals from Jason Williams, Henrik Zetterberg and Johan Franzen. Goalie Jimmy Howard allowed four goals on 21 shots before he was pulled for Chris Osgood. Osgood stopped 10 of 12 shots and is 1-9 in his last ten. Howard is 4-6 in his last ten with a 3.20 GAA. Babcock also confirmed that Howard would get the start in goal against Nashville. Time is running out on the Red Wings, and so are the excuses. "We were poor," coach Mike Babcock told the Detroit Free Press. "We were poor in goal, we were poor on the back end, we were poor up front, we were poor in the work ethic department. The bottom line is we didn't look like a team that's dying to be in the playoffs." They might miss the playoffs after 18 years of making it in, an all time sports record . Babcock took decisive action at practice Thursday, moving Todd Bertuzzi to the third line with Valtteri Filppula and Drew Miller. Jason Williams was with Dan Cleary and Henrik Zetterberg, and Pavel Datsyuk with Tomas Holmstrom and Johan Franzen. Brett Lebda joined Andres Lilja on the blue line. Drew Miller has three of his seven goals and five of his 15 total points in the three games against the Predators.
Recent Trends to Consider:
- Over is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings in Detroit.
- Over is 6-2 in the last 8 meetings.
- Home team is 22-10 in the last 32 meetings.
- Predators are 8-29-2 in the last 39 meetings in Detroit.
- Predators are 5-1 in their last 6 games as a road underdog of +151 to +200.
Nashville Predators vs Detroit Red Wings
When: Friday Mar 05, 2009 7:30 PM ET
Line: SPORTSBOOK.com
Pick: Preds +135
Point-Spreads.com Nashville Predators vs Detroit Red Wings NHL Pick
The Bottom Line: The Wings have major issues in net, while the Preds Olympians are playing great. Be sure to get your Nashville Predators vs Detroit Red Wings NHL Pick in early at SPORTSBOOK.com and Get a 50% Deposit Bonus and $25 Free Bet at Sportsbook.com, simply use promo code WIN100 and start winning today!
