We have a short Friday slate to choose from for our NHL picks.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But I do have a side I like here, so let\u2019s try to get a win<\/a> heading into the weekend.\u00a0<\/p>\n And it has nothing to do with any local delicacy (mmmm, Primanti sandwiches).<\/p>\n NHL Season Stats: 3-10 (-6.45 Units)<\/p>\n The Penguins return to the States after their two-game split with the Nashville Predators over in Stockholm. They haven\u2019t played since Sunday afternoon, so they come in with a full nine days of rest \u2014 albeit with a long flight mixed in.<\/p>\n Pittsburgh looked headed for a rebuilding year, but instead they\u2019ve stormed out to a 10-5-4 start backed by strong underlying metrics. They\u2019ve outscored opponents 3.22\u20132.44 per 60 in actual goals and 3.38\u20133.10 per 60 in expected goals. Regular netminder Tristan Jarry is out, but Arturs Silovs has stepped in and emerged as one of the league\u2019s best early-season stories. In 10+ games, he owns a 91.7% save percentage and 6.40 Goals Saved Above Average, ranking 6th in the NHL.<\/p>\n A big reason many expected Pittsburgh to decline is age \u2014 their best skaters are in their late 30s. But the production hasn\u2019t dipped. Evgeni Malkin (5-18-23) and Sidney Crosby (12-9-21) have both played all 19 games and remain elite drivers.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Our Current Best Offers<\/span><\/p>\n 1<\/p>\n T&Cs apply, 18+<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n 2<\/p>\n T&Cs apply, 18+<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n 3<\/p>\n T&Cs apply, 18+<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n 4<\/p>\n T&Cs apply, 18+<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n It\u2019s not all perfect, though. Pittsburgh is banged up. Justin Brazeau exploded out of the gate with 6 goals and 12 points in 12 games, but he\u2019s now on the shelf, as are veteran forward Rickard Rakell and depth center Noel Acciari. The Penguins have also lost 5 of their last 7 \u2014 though that stretch includes an OT loss, a shootout loss, and two one-goal defeats.<\/p>\n Their opponent? A near mirror image.\u00a0<\/p>\n The Wild are 10-7-4 and were projected to build on last season\u2019s playoff appearance. The results are solid, but the underlying numbers aren\u2019t: they\u2019ve been outscored 2.70\u20132.98 per 60 and are losing the expected-goals battle 3.05\u20133.19. Goaltending hasn\u2019t helped either, with Filip Gustavsson posting an 89.7% save rate and 0.39 GSAA.<\/p>\n There are<\/i> positives.\u00a0<\/p>\n Kirill Kaprizov hasn\u2019t blinked under the pressure of his massive extension<\/a>, tallying 11-13-24 in 21 games, while Matt Boldy is right behind at 11-11-22. Minnesota has also heated up with three straight wins and five victories in their last six.<\/p>\n Are these teams heading in opposite directions? Maybe. But it still feels like Pittsburgh is the slightly better<\/a> side. They have the goaltending edge, they\u2019re at home, and they come in with extended rest.<\/p>\n The pick: Penguins Moneyline<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/section>\n Our Current Best Offers<\/span><\/p>\n 1<\/p>\n T&Cs apply, 18+<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nMinnesota Wild at Pittsburgh Penguins<\/h2>\n
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