Detroit takes on Pittsburgh on 3-game slide

Detroit Red Wings (18-19-6, fifth in the Atlantic) vs. Pittsburgh Penguins (27-10-6, second in the Metropolitan)

Pittsburgh; Friday, 7 p.m. EST

LINE: Penguins -233, Red Wings +187; over/under is 6.5

BOTTOM LINE: Detroit comes into the matchup with Pittsburgh after losing three games in a row.

The Penguins are 14-6-1 against Eastern Conference opponents. Pittsburgh is sixth in the NHL averaging 5.9 assists per game, led by Bryan Rust with 0.9.

The Red Wings are 6-5-2 against opponents from the Atlantic. Detroit averages 9.6 penalty minutes per game, the fifth-most in the Eastern Conference. Givani Smith leads the team serving 85 total minutes.

The teams meet Friday for the first time this season.

TOP PERFORMERS: Kris Letang leads the Penguins with 33 assists and has 38 points this season. Evgeni Malkin has four goals and six assists over the last 10 games for Pittsburgh.

Tyler Bertuzzi leads the Red Wings with 20 goals and has 38 points. Dylan Larkin has five goals and three assists over the last 10 games for Detroit.

LAST 10 GAMES: Penguins: 7-2-1, averaging 3.5 goals, 6.2 assists, 2.8 penalties and 6.7 penalty minutes while giving up 2.7 goals per game with a .914 save percentage.

Red Wings: 3-4-3, averaging 2.8 goals, 4.2 assists, 4.7 penalties and 14.9 penalty minutes while giving up three goals per game with a .903 save percentage.

INJURIES: Penguins: Teddy Blueger: out (upper-body).

Red Wings: Thomas Greiss: out (covid-19).

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