Red Wings vs. Penguins Prediction & Odds: NHL Picks Today (March 31)
The Detroit Red Wings are in desperation mode as they face the Pittsburgh Penguins at PPG Paints Arena tonight (7 p.m. ET, ESPN).
Nothing short of a win will suffice for the Red Wings, the -118 moneyline betting favorite. I'm backing them in my Red Wings vs. Penguins prediction, expecting a much more spirited display than their home stinker against Philly on Saturday. Alex DeBrincat has been a consistent bright spot for the Red Wings, and he features in my player prop.
🏒 Red Wings vs. Penguins picks & odds today: March 31
See all of our experts' NHL picks based on the latest NHL odds; picks rated on a 1-to-5 star confidence scale based on betting value.
| Bet type | Units | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Red Wings ML (-118) | 1u -> 0.85u | The Red Wings' season is on the line, and they won't disappoint |
| Over 6.5 goals (-106) | 1u -> 0.94u | The Under hit in 12 of the previous 13 Pens' games |
| Alex DeBrincat Over 3.5 shots (-140) | 2u -> 1.42u | Six straight with at least 4 shots |
Total wagered: 2.5 units | Max profit: 2.56 units
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💰 Red Wings vs. Penguins prediction & best bet
Red Wings ML (-118)
Tonight's game is as close as you can get to a must-win scenario for the Red Wings, who face a Penguins team that played last night. While the 8-3 win was impressive, the Red Wings will look to capitalize against presumed starter Stuart Skinner, who lost three of his previous four.
Captain Dylan Larkin should be nearing his sharpest as he prepares for his fourth game back after an extended absence, while Evgeni Malkin is still listed as day-to-day.
The Pens have lost three straight at PPG Paints Arena, and the Red Wings' best outing of the last four came on the road, a 5-2 win over Buffalo.
Score prediction: Red Wings 4, Penguins 3 (+4000 via FanDuel)
💡 Sidney Crosby player prop
In my NHL player props, I featured a Sidney Crosby player prop, along with three more appealing picks.
🔥 Best Red Wings vs. Penguins player prop bet
Alex DeBrincat Over 3.5 shots (-140)
The Red Wings' playoff hopes would be doomed without DeBrincat's recent exploits. The American enters with at least four shots in six straight contests, a run that has seen him test opposing goaltenders 33 times.
He has almost doubled that number in terms of shot attempts, firing 60 pucks toward goal in that timeframe, an average of 10 per contest.
He should be able to jump all over a heavier-legged Penguins team, and I have no doubt he'll be buzzing after the Wings' putrid display at home against Philly on Saturday.
🏒 Alex DeBrincat goal-scoring prop
DeBrincat to score a goal is another solid play, as he enters with a goal in four of the previous five contests. He's also had recent success against the Pens, with a goal in the last two meetings.
Best odds: +155 via bet365
📊 Live Red Wings vs. Penguins odds
The Red Wings opened as the +100 betting underdog, while the Pens were the -120 favorite. The odds have flipped, with the Red Wings now the -115 to -120 betting favorite.
The flip is due to money coming in on the Red Wings, largely because of the Penguins playing on consecutive nights. It will be interesting to see how Crosby plays in back-to-back games after returning to the lineup against the New York Islanders on Monday.
🚀 Red Wings vs. Penguins same-game parlay
In their last 13 games, the Pens have been involved in 12 Overs. I don't see that changing much with Skinner expected to get the nod between the pipes.
That correlates with DeBrincat getting on the scoresheet while continuing his shooting expedition. The Pens should be slightly more fatigued, given they played last night.
I also expect the Red Wings to rebound after a poor display at home on Saturday.
💵 Red Wings vs. Penguins SGP picks
- Over 6.5 goals (-106)
- Red Wings ML (-118)
- Alex DeBrincat Over 3.5 shots (-140)
- Bonus pick: Alex DeBrincat anytime goal (+155)
Best odds: +515 via FanDuel (0.5u -> 2.55u)
Best odds with bonus pick: +1469 via FanDuel (0.1u -> 1.47u)
💵 My betting record for NHL picks
All NHL picks have been tracked since March 1.
| Bet type | Record | Net profit | ROI |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 53-67-3 | +9.61 units ✅ | 8.6% ✅ |
| Player props | 33-49 | -5.72 units ❌ | -6.5% ❌ |
💡 How I'm betting Red Wings vs. Penguins
Follow all of our NHL analysis and expert predictions this season.
After such a woeful home outing, I expect a strong rebound performance from the Red Wings. The Pens haven't been brilliant at home recently, and Skinner has allowed at least four in three of his previous four starts.
DeBrincat is doing his part to keep the Red Wings in the playoff race, but I expect Larkin to be back to his best tonight. I'm most confident in DeBrincat keeping whoever starts in goal for the Pens busy, which is why I invested 2 units.
📈 Red Wings vs. Penguins betting trends
| Red Wings | Statistic | Penguins |
|---|---|---|
| 39-26-8 | W-L record | 37-21-16 |
| 37-36-0 | ATS record | 44-30-0 |
| 4-5-1 | O/U record last 10 | 9-1-0 |
| 2-3-0 | Last 5 games | 2-3-0 |
🚑 Red Wings vs. Penguins injuries
📺 How to watch Red Wings vs. Penguins
- Date: Tuesday, March 31
- Puck drop: 7 p.m. ET
- Location: PPG Paints Arena (Pittsburgh)
- TV: ESPN+
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