Quick preview for today's big game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Detroit Red Wings. They both need this game. Pittsburgh needs to stay afloat after their disappointing loss to the Devils and the Red Wings need every point they can get because they are the least likely of the Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, and Detroit combo to get in the playoffs. Missing hte playoffs would break Detroit's remarkable streak of making hte postseason in 24 consecutive years.
Here is the lay of the land heading into today
The New York Islanders did Pittsburgh a favor by losing in regulation to the Tampa Bay Lightning last night which keeps the Penguins one point ahead of New York with the same nine games left to play in the season. Pittsburgh continues to control its own destiny. Detroit only has eight games left and trails Pittsburgh by three points. A regulation loss to the Penguins would all but crush their hopes of catching the Penguins and leave only the Flyers to pursue.
Here are the odds for what team the Penguins could play in the playoffs.
Take note of that 13% for Tampa Bay. They just lost one of their best defenseman long term with Anton Stralman's fibula fracture in last night's game.
Here are Pittsburgh's (and others) strengths and weaknesses from recent play
Pittsburgh is doing well on the unblocked shot generation and shot suppression front as well as team goals per shot on goal (SH%) and 4v5 shot suppression. All things that help drive you towards winning games. Pittsburgh's one weakness? Their ability to generate shots on the power play, go figure.
At the time of writing the blog yesterday we knew about Olli Maatta's week to week injury but we did not know about Nick Bonino's latest ailment. Oskar Sundqvist was sent down to the Baby Penguins and not long after Pittsburgh's practice he was immediately recalled again. The reason? Bonino took a shot at practice to his hand.
Bonino missed time earlier in the year due to a hand injury. It is not known if this is the same hand or not.
Ben Lovejoy looks to be the guy replacing Olli Maatta and Oskar Sundqvist will slide back into the lineup to replace Bonino.
Drew Miller (knee) and Johan Franzen (concussion) are the only Red Wings listed on the injury report.
Thanks for reading!
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