Fleury tries to backstop Pens to another W
Pittsburgh didn’t seem to miss injured star Sidney Crosby too much in its season-opening victory. Will the follow-up affair at PPG Paints Arena be a different story?
The Penguins host the Ducks tonight, with a 7 p.m. ET start in the Steel City. Online sports book Bovada.lv gives the defending Stanley Cup champions odds of -160 to start 2-0. Randy Carlyle’s crew, on the other hand, represents a +140 underdog.
On Thursday, Mike Sullivan’s gang defeated Washington 3-2 in shootout fashion. With Crosby continuing to recover from a concussion, Evgeni Malkin carried the offensive load. The two-time All-Star notched two points, while Marc-Andre Fleury made 39 saves.
The veteran netminder could see just as much rubber in a few hours. Anaheim’s top six forwards include proven lamp lighters Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf. In addition, Andrew Cogliano potted both of the Ducks’ goals in their first contest. The power play, however, went 0-for-5 in that 4-2 defeat at the hands of Dallas.
NHL Quick Links: Free Matchup Reports | Injuries | Odds Comparison | Scoreboard | Betting Trends
In reality, the Penguins can only mask Crosby’s absence for so long. Despite the home setting this evening, Sullivan’s club may struggle to handle Anaheim’s physicality. Expect the visiting group ensure a tight tilt well into the third period.
SATURDAY NHL FREE PICK: DUCKS +1.5