The Detroit Red Wings and Boston Bruins meet on the ice later today in Game 2 of their First Round battle in the NHL Playoffs. The game is scheduled for a 3 p.m. start time and it will be televised nationally on NBC. Currently the NHL Odds for the game have the Bruins as a heavy favorite to even the series.
Pavel Datsyuk made one of the best individual plays in recent memory in the opening game of this series, scoring the only goal in the Detroit 1-0 victory. The Red Wings weren't the best team on the road during the regular season but found a way to be better away from home compared to Joe Louis Arena. Boston was one of the best teams in the league at home, posting a 31-7-3 record. Yet, the Red Wings got a very important win in Game 1.
Jimmy Howard made plenty of saves for the Red Wings, stopping all 25 shots he faced in that contest. That opener was a well-played hockey game. Both teams combined for only three penalties and the only goal came on a very good play by one of the best individual hockey players in the world.
Boston did get a great game form Tuukka Rask, who made 23 save against Detroit. He will need to play well again in this contest if the Bruins are going to even the series. The more physical Bruins are usually the ones crowding opponents. They allowed the second-fewest goals during the regular season.
Detroit, both young at key positions and looking to not allow a bunch of goals for the opposition, will be ready in this one. They were able to catch Boston down in the opener and it'd be tough to see them doing it again here today. Detroit has a lot of talent on the ice, but Boston can't afford to go down 0-2 to the Red Wings.
An interesting subpolt going on is the physical play of Milan Lucic, who has spent some time in the box and is a very physical player. He had a nasty hit in the opening game and we expect some type of retaliation in this one tonight. It's going to be tough for Detroit to get another win here. The Bruins are great on the power play and excellent on the penalty kill.
We think the Bruins tie the series up at one game each later today.
Free Pick: Boston 4, Detroit 1
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