Monday’s Best NHL Bet
Phoenix Coyotes at Detroit Red Wings
Heading into the third period in Vancouver Saturday night, the Wings were poised to pick up their third win in four nights. But Detroit allowed three goals in the final frame and ended its West Coast swing with a 4-6 loss.
“Our PK didn’t respond,” Red Wings captain Nicklas Lidstrom told the Detroit Free Press after the game. “[The Canucks] scored two goals there late in the game that won the game for them. I don’t know if we were tired or what it was, but we weren’t aggressive at the right times and they had some good puck movement, too.”
Detroit goalie Jimmy Howard, who faced 23 shots in the third period, agreed with Lidstrom’s hint at a lack of energy for the Wings.
“It just seemed like they had more legs in the third period,” Howard said. “It’s not an excuse, it never should be used as an excuse, but it seemed like the puck didn’t really leave our zone for much of the third period after the first couple minutes. It was just one of those nights.”
Look for Detroit to get back on track Monday against the Coyotes.
Pick: Red Wings
Red Wings return home against Coyotes
By: Joe Freda
Mike Babcock's squad returns home for Monday night's matchup with the Phoenix Coyotes, who are on a 2-6 slide in their last eight games.
Detroit ended its road journey with Saturday's 6-4 defeat as a 128 underdog against the Vancouver Canucks. The Red Wings were outshot, 23-7, in the third period, allowing three unanswered goals after leading, 4-3.
Detroit Red Wings defenseman Niklas Kronwall notched a season-high two goals. The 29-year-old also visited the penalty box, getting called for interference in the first stanza.
Detroit's Daniel Cleary and Jonathan Ericsson logged their team's other two goals, both coming in the second period. Cleary deflected in a shot from mate Justin Abdelkader, while Ericsson connected from 62 feet away with one of his club's 28 shots on goal.
Red Wings netminder Jimmy Howard dropped to 6-2 in his eight starts, stopping 28-of-34 shots. The New York native's GAA surged to 2.33.
The back-and-forth battle's combined 10 goals sailed above the ‘total' of 5 ½, cashing ‘over' tickets by the end of the second stanza. Detroit went 1-for-4 on its power play chances, while successfully killing 3-of-5 penalties.
Detroit is 4-2 in its first six home dates, with the ‘over' going 5-1.
Phoenix picked up its second straight loss in Saturday's 4-3 shootout defeat as a 104 home favorite against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The game's scoreless third period sent the rivals into overtime tied, 3-3, after the Coyotes blew an early 2-0 lead.
Coyotes centerman Eric Belanger logged one goal and one assist for his third two-point game of the season. The 32-year-old also won 9-of-15 faceoffs.
Phoenix's Radim Vrbata notched one goal, extending his streak of games with at least one point to three. The right winger led his squad with four shots on goal during his 15 minutes of ice time.
Coyotes goalie Ilya Bryzgalov logged 33 saves, including 14 in the third period. The Russia native fell to 4-6 in his 10 outings, while bringing his GAA to 2.83.
The tight affair's seven combined goals jumped ‘over' the ‘total' of 5 ½. Phoenix went 0-for-3 in the shootout stanza, losing when Pittsburgh's Mark Letestu struck a 14-foot wristshot past Bryzgalov.
Phoenix is 2-4 in its six road games, with the ‘over' cashing at 4-1-1.
Detroit is 4-2 in its last six meetings against Phoenix, with the ‘over' going 3-2-1.
The rivals have split two meetings this season, with the Coyotes winning the most recent duel, 4-2, as 156 road dogs in an Oct. 28 trip to Detroit. Vrbata launched a team-high five shots on goal for Phoenix, connecting one of them past Red Wings goalie Chris Osgood, who started in place of Howard.
Monday's puck drops at 4:30 p.m. (PT), with Versus providing the national television coverage.
The Coyotes will have one day off before completing their two-game road trip against the Chicago Blackhawks as part of Wednesday's league slate. Detroit will be idle for two days, remaining home for Thursday's contest against the Edmonton Oilers.