Red Wings vs. Blues Free NHL Pick

[Shame About Ray]

Detroit (41-14-8) at St. Louis (28-26-8)—8:30pm EST

The Detroit Red Wings (-170) will be looking to bounce back from their most lopsided loss of the campaign by winning a fourth straight over the St. Louis Blues (+150), who is going four a season-high fourth consecutive win. The Wings own an eleven-point lead over second-place Chicago in the Central and just three points behind Western Conference-leading San Jose. The Wings will claim its division, however, if they are going to win a fifth straight West title by reeling in the Sharks, they must find consistency in net.

While they have scored a league-best 228 goals, the Wings rank in the bottom half of the league in giving up 2.94 per game. Saturday night in Nashville, Ty Conklin gave up four goals in the first 9:51, and Chris Osgood allowed four more on 14 shots for Detroit’s worst defensive performance since a 9-4 loss at San Jose on Jan. 4.

Osgood will be between the pipes and is 7-1-2 with a 1.71 GAA with two shutouts in his last ten appearances versus the Blues. In winning five of the last six meetings, Detroit has scored 20 goals with 11 in three straight victories in St. Louis.

Osgood better bring his A-Game, because his counter-part is the NHL’s hottest goaltender in Chris Mason, who has won four of his last five starts allowing one goal in each contest. Following a bankroll busting 3-13-1 start this season with a 3.14 GAA, Mason has recovered lost funds by going 11-3-4 with a 1.56 GAA in 18 consecutive appearances.

A 6-1-1 record in their last eight, while earning a point in five straight games, has the formerly last-place Blues only three points behind Anaheim and Edmonton, who are tied for seventh in the West.

Free NHL Selections: Detroit -1½ +165 Puck Line

[Home On The Range]

Wings up 1-0 after 1. They should be able to finish off Mason in the Blues net, but then again who knows