Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Philadelphia Flyers Free Preview

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In their third head-to-head meeting of the regular season, the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Philadelphia Flyers face off at the Wells Fargo Center in a Metro Division matchup. NBC Sports Network will broadcast the matchup, which gets underway at 8 p.m. ET on Wednesday, March 7.

Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Philadelphia Flyers Odds

The money line for each team is currently set at an identical -110, and the Over/Under (O/U) is set at an even 6 goals (-120 money on the over, +100 on the under).

Pittsburgh is 38-29 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 0.3 units this season. 36 of its contests have gone over the total, while 29 have gone under and just two have pushed. As an away team in 2017-18, the Pens are 13-20 SU.

Pittsburgh currently has the second-strongest power-play unit in the NHL, as it’s scored on 26.4 percent of its extra-man chances this year. Its penalty kill is ranked 12th overall, and the team’s successfully killed off 81.7 percent of all penalties.

Pittsburgh, as a collective unit, has been whistled for penalties 4.1 times per game overall this season, and 3.3 per game over its past ten outings. The team’s been forced to kill penalties just 8.3 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.

With a .909 save percentage and 25.7 saves per game, Matt Murray (25-16-2) has been the primary option in goal for Pittsburgh this season. If Pittsburgh chooses to rest him, however, they could go with Tristan Jarry (13-10-2), who has a .913 save percentage and 2.69 goals against average this year.

The visiting Penguins have relied on Evgeni Malkin and Phil Kessel this season. Malkin has 82 points on 37 goals and 45 assists, and has recorded multiple points in 20 different games. Kessel has 27 goals and 49 assists to his credit (and has registered a point in 46 games).

Philadelphia is 34-32 straight up (SU) and has lost 1.1 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 66 regular season matches, 34 of its games have gone over the total, while 30 have gone under and just two have pushed. This year, the team’s 16-16 SU as the home team.

Philadelphia has converted on 20.6 percent of its power play chances this season, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 29th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 75.3 percent of all penalties.

Philadelphia players have been sent to the penalty box 3.5 times per game in total this season, and 2.6 per game over their last five home outings. The team’s had to stave off opponent power plays just 7.3 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.

Brian Elliott has stopped 26.3 shots per game as the top selection in goal for Philadelphia. Elliott has 22 wins, 19 losses, and seven overtime losses to his credit and has maintained a mediocre 2.72 goals against average and a fairly-weak .908 save percentage this year.

Claude Giroux (23 goals, 55 assists) will pace the attack for the Flyers.

Pittsburgh Penguins at Philadelphia Flyers Free Picks

Free Pick: SU Winner – Penguins, O/U – Under

Betting Trends

  • The under has hit in three of Philadelphia’s last five games.
  • Pittsburgh’s attempted 34.3 shots per game overall this season (the second-most in the NHL), and 29.6 in its last five road outings.
  • Penalties and power plays may prove to be critical in tonight’s game. The Penguins are 18-10 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 24-18 in games where they serve fewer than 10 penalty minutes, in total. The Flyers are 17-14 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than the opposition and 26-15 in games where total penalty minutes are in the single digits.
  • Three of Philadelphia’s last ten games have been decided by a shootout. The team is 1-2 in those games and 2-6 overall in shootouts this year.
  • Philadelphia skaters have managed 6.2 takeaways per game over its last five home games, a slight drop from its season average of 5.8 takeaways per game (ranked 26th in the NHL).
  • Pittsburgh is ranked 19th in the NHL this season with 7.1 takeaways per game. That figure has trended higher, as the team has created 9.7 takeaways over its last 10 games and 7.8 takeaways over its last five.