| 2009 Stanley Cup Finals: Detroit Red Wings vs Pittsburgh Penguins Game 4 |
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| Written by Scott Burgess | |||||||
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Thursday, 04 June 2009
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 The Pittsburgh Penguins avoided a big hole by winning Game 3 over the Detroit Red Wings to set the Stanley Cup Finals best of seven series at 2-1 Detroit. Tonight, June 4, the Penguins look to tie up the series before going back to dreaded Detroit. NHL oddsmakers at SBGglobal.com have the Penguins as -140 moneyline favs over the Red Wings (+125) with the over/under posted at 5.5 goals. Be sure to get your 2009 Stanley Cup Finals: Pittsburgh Penguins vs Detroit Red Wings Prediction in now at SBGglobal.comThe Red Wings will be glad to have Pavel Datsyuk back in the lineup after sitting out six games and Kris Draper will be back as well. The return of Pavel Datsyuk, the Hart Trophy finalist and shutdown defender, has the potential to alter the series. Getting Datsyuk back might allow coach Mike Babcock to trim Zetterberg's ice time; he played 24-plus minutes while all but accompanying Crosby to the bench between shifts in Game 3. Red Wings goalie Chris Osgood also is wearing the no-big-deal look of a relaxed player who's won three Stanley Cups and knows how to deal with the occasional loss. "The games have been played at a higher competition level and a lot closer than they have been before," Osgood said. "They've gained experience and added some key elements. ... But it's ironic that all three games have gone exactly the same as they did last year." Detroit is 3-1 after a loss in the playoffs and Marion Hossa has six goals in the playoffs all in Game 4’s. . The Penguins are a little more relaxed after winning Game 3, 4-2 at home. They got goals from Maxime Talbot (2), Kristopher Letang and Sergei Gonchar, but nothing from Crosby. Sidney Crosby doesn't have a goal in the Stanley Cup finals. Evgeni Malkin has improved his play. Malkin's upgraded play is one of the reasons the Penguins are optimistic they can pull off a comeback after losing the first two games on the road, despite the fact only one of 32 teams has previously overcome such a deficit in the finals. Malkin, badly off his game while being shut out in the first four games against Detroit last year, has a goal, four assists and the look of a player who could take over a series. Crosby, who trails only Malkin in playoff scoring with 29 points, has only one assist in three games and has yet to take off. Goalie Marc-Andre Fleury settled down after two shaky losses to make 27 saves on Tuesday. "I'm learning how to play now, it's the second final - it's the same team," Malkin said. Recent Trends to Consider:
2009 Stanley Cup Finals: Detroit Red Wings vs Pittsburgh Penguins When: Thurs, June 4, 2009 8:00 PM ET Line: SBGglobal.com Pick: Red Wings +125 Point-Spreads.com 2009 Stanley Cup Finals: Detroit Red Wings vs Pittsburgh Penguins The Bottom Line: The Wings lost back to back only once in these playoffs to Anaheim, and the Pens ain’t no Anaheim. Go Pens! Be sure to get your 2009 Stanley Cup Finals: Pittsburgh Penguins vs Detroit Red Wings Prediction in now at SBGglobal.com and receive a 10% sign-up bonus on your initial deposit.                        |
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