Detroit Red Wings vs Pittsburgh Penguins Picks and Predictions December 31st 2024

Detroit Red Wings vs Pittsburgh Penguins December 31st 2024

The Penguins and Red Wings are set to face off at 8:00 ET on ESPN+. The Red Wings will host the game at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, MI. The over/under for this Eastern conference contest is set at 6.5 goals, with the Red Wings being favored by -1.5 goals at home against the Penguins.

From betting trends to recaps, Scores and Stats covers it all on the blog.

Pittsburgh vs. Detroit Key Information

With a 3-1 win over the Canadiens, the Penguins moved above .500 to 17-16-5. Pittsburgh, favored by -1.5 goals, covered the puck line. The total was set at 6.5 goals, but the combined score of 4 fell short.

Sidney Crosby scored twice for the Penguins, including a goal at 4:03 in the first period. Montreal narrowed the gap to 2-1 in the third period, but Blake Lizotte’s empty-net goal sealed the win for Pittsburgh.

Sidney Crosby led the way for the Penguins in their 3-1 win over the Canadiens, scoring twice on his three shots on goal. He netted his fourth goal of the season 4:03 into the first period, and added a fifth on a power play at 1:20 in the second.

Blake Lizotte sealed the victory with his second goal of the season, an empty-netter with 45 seconds left in the game. The Penguins took 24 shots on goal and recorded 14 giveaways.

Defensively, the Penguins will look to build off their last game, where they allowed just one goal to the Canadiens. Alex Nedeljkovic recorded 25 saves with a 96.2% save percentage, and the defense added 5 takeaways and 19 hits. The only goal they allowed came 5:32 into the 3rd period, making the score 2-1.

Detroit improved to 14-18-4 with a 2-1 win over the Sabres. The Red Wings trailed 1-0 after the first period, but Dylan Larkin scored twice in the second to secure the victory. Detroit was favored on the puck line, but failed to cover. The total was set at 6.5 goals, and the combined score of 3 fell short of that mark.

All of Detroit’s goals came on the power play, while the Sabres scored their lone goal short-handed. Larkin’s first goal came at 12:11 in the second period, and he added another at 5:22. Detroit’s defense held Buffalo scoreless after the 1st period, with Cam Talbot making 31 saves.

Dylan Larkin provided all the offense for the Red Wings in their 2-1 win over the Sabres, netting his 6th and 7th goals of the season. Larkin took 4 shots on goal, scoring twice during the second period, with both goals coming on power plays.

Detroit registered 23 shots on goal but also had 15 giveaways. Patrick Kane picked up his 6th assist of the season on Larkin’s first goal, while Alex DeBrincat added his 4th assist, and Lucas Raymond notched his 10th assist on Larkin’s second goal.

Defensively, the Red Wings will look to carry over their performance from their previous game, where they allowed just 1 goal to the Sabres. Cam Talbot made 31 saves with a 96.9% save percentage, and the defense finished with 4 takeaways and 11 hits. The only goal they allowed came at 11:39 in the first period.

If you’re looking for a moneyline pick, my choice is the Red Wings to take down the Penguins at home. With the moneyline currently at -125, I’m placing my bet on the Red Wings straight-up.

If you’re looking for my recommendation on the puck line, I suggest taking the Penguins to cover. Even if the Red Wings manage to win outright, this game is expected to remain competitive, and the Penguins should cover the puck line.

With an over/under line sitting at 6.5 goals, we like this game to surpass that mark and recommend getting a bet down on the over.

Penguins Energized by Power Play, Red Wings by New Head Coach

The Pittsburgh Penguins and Detroit Red Wings are heading into their New Year’s Eve matchup at Little Caesars Arena with renewed energy for different reasons. Pittsburgh’s power play is firing on all cylinders, while Detroit has found new life under recently appointed head coach Todd McLellan.

Penguins’ Power Play Leading the Charge

Pittsburgh’s power play has been unstoppable lately, producing six goals over the last three games. In Sunday’s 3-2 victory over the New York Islanders, the Penguins converted both of their power-play opportunities, helping them avenge a loss to the Islanders the previous day.

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Coach Mike Sullivan praised the balance between the team’s two power-play units, one led by Sidney Crosby and the other by Evgeni Malkin: “We’ve got some talented people on both. On any given night, one of them could be better than the other.”

Michael Bunting has been a key contributor during this stretch, scoring at least one goal in each of the last three games. With seven goals and seven assists in his last 13 outings, Bunting credits the team’s overall success: “When the team is having success, individuals are having success as well.”

Sunday’s win also marked a historic milestone for Crosby, who surpassed Mario Lemieux to become the Penguins’ all-time assists leader with 1,034. Sullivan lauded Crosby’s creativity: “The accomplishment … this is just more evidence of an amazing career.”

Red Wings Energized by Coaching Change

The Red Wings snapped a four-game losing streak with a 4-2 victory over the Washington Capitals on Sunday, giving Todd McLellan his first win as Detroit’s head coach. McLellan took over for Derek Lalonde just two games ago, and his arrival seems to have reinvigorated the team.

Patrick Kane hit a major milestone in the win, becoming only the second U.S.-born player to reach 1,300 career points, joining Mike Modano (1,374). Kane, who had a power-play goal and an assist, is also the fourth active player to reach the milestone, alongside Crosby, Malkin, and Alex Ovechkin.

McLellan acknowledged the significance of Kane’s achievement: “Those special moments energize other guys and they get excited.”

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Alex DeBrincat also made a statement with two goals as Detroit built a 4-1 lead in the first period and held on for the win. DeBrincat credited the coaching change for bringing a fresh start: “New coach comes in and gets that energy in the room. It’s good to get that win and, hopefully, we can get some more here soon.”

Season Series and Final 2024 Matchup

The Penguins and Red Wings have split their two meetings this season. Pittsburgh won the first game 6-3 on Oct. 10, while Detroit earned a 3-2 overtime victory on Nov. 13.

Pittsburgh has been strong recently, going 10-4-1 since Nov. 27. Detroit, energized by McLellan’s arrival, will look to build on Sunday’s win and close out 2024 on a high note. Both teams aim to set the tone heading into the new year.