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NHL free picks: Blues vs. Penguins and Avalanche vs. Maple Leafs
St. Louis Blues leftwing David Perron reacts after scoring a game winning goal. (Photo by Keith Gillett/Icon Sportswire)
December 4th, 2019
The Penguins will try to even the score with the Blues at PPG Paints Arena on Wednesday night, following an embarrassing 5-2 loss to St. Louis at the Enterprise Center on Saturday night.
Pittsburgh did not merely lose a game on Saturday. They also lost one of their more reliable defensemen, Brian Dumoulin, who underwent ankle surgery after he was injured during first period. The Penguins were already feeling the pinch on their own blue line, with defenseman Justin Schultz and forward Nick Bjugstad also out. Pittsburgh allowed the seventh-most goals per game in November (3.36) as a result of their misfortune. The Penguins seem to have the rest advantage, having sat idle since Saturday, while the Blues played Monday, but Pittsburgh has dropped each of its last five games playing on three or more days of rest.
Pittsburgh did not merely lose a game on Saturday. They also lost one of their more reliable defensemen, Brian Dumoulin, who underwent ankle surgery after he was injured during first period. The Penguins were already feeling the pinch on their own blue line, with defenseman Justin Schultz and forward Nick Bjugstad also out. Pittsburgh allowed the seventh-most goals per game in November (3.36) as a result of their misfortune. The Penguins seem to have the rest advantage, having sat idle since Saturday, while the Blues played Monday, but Pittsburgh has dropped each of its last five games playing on three or more days of rest.
Penguins have the start of a great lineup of injured guys in the organization.
Samuel Poulin - Sidney Crosby - Bryan Rust Kasper Bjorkqvist - Nick Bjugstad - Patric Hornqvist Filip Hallander Brian Dumoulin - Justin Schultz — Taylor Haase (@TaylorHaasePGH) December 3, 2019
St. Louis has won four straight games and has outscored its competition 16-6 during that stretch. The Blues have received contributions from every line—even fourth-liner Mackenzie MacEachern has a pair of goals in that span. The Blues have won four straight in the fourth game of a four-games-in-six-nights situation, so don’t expect their momentum to be halted here.
Pick: Blues moneyline
Colorado Avalanche at Toronto Maple Leafs, 7 p.m. ET
Maple Leafs backup goalie Michael Hutchinson is in line for the start Wednesday night at the Scotiabank Arena, which makes the visiting Avalanche appealing as a slight underdog.
Hutchinson struggled in his most recent start against the Sabres on November 29, when he allowed five goals on 35 shots. In seven appearances this season, he owns a lackluster .876 save percentage. Toronto is also 1-7 in its last eight games played on no rest (the Maple Leafs lost 6-1 Tuesday in Philadelphia).
Hutchinson struggled in his most recent start against the Sabres on November 29, when he allowed five goals on 35 shots. In seven appearances this season, he owns a lackluster .876 save percentage. Toronto is also 1-7 in its last eight games played on no rest (the Maple Leafs lost 6-1 Tuesday in Philadelphia).
Michael Hutchinson said he's never been through a stretch like this in his career, yo-yo between AHL and NHL and struggling to adjust and get wins: "You think in 10 years you've gone through everything, and then hockey throws something new at you."
— Kristen Shilton (@kristen_shilton) November 30, 2019
Colorado is 4-1 in its last five games played on three or more days of rest and 8-3 in its last 11. Its high-octane offense (second in goals per game) will not be stymied in this one.
Pick: Avalanche moneyline
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