The Pittsburgh Penguins, spearheaded by Sidney Crosby and Phil Kessel, are set to take the ice against Claude Giroux, Sean Couturier, and the Philadelphia Flyers at Lincoln Financial Field in a divisional showdown. NBC will broadcast the action, which gets underway at 8 p.m. ET on Saturday, February 23.
Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Philadelphia Flyers Odds
The Penguins (-125) are being chosen as the favorites over the Flyers (+105), and oddsmakers have put the Over/Under (O/U) at 7 goals (-120 money on the over, +100 on the under).
Pittsburgh is 32-29 straight up (SU) and has lost 12.9 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 61 regular season contests, 29 of its games have gone over the total, while 27 have gone under and just five have pushed. The Pens are 15-15 SU as the road team in 2018-19.
Pittsburgh has converted on 24.6 percent of its power play chances this season, a mark that places them in the top-10 among NHL teams. Additionally, its penalty kill is ranked 14th overall, and the team’s successfully killed off 80.7 percent of its penalties..
Averaging 27.4 saves per game with a .914 save percentage, Casey DeSmith (14-20-5) has been the best option in goal for Pittsburgh this season. If Pittsburgh chooses to rest him, however, the team may turn to Matt Murray (18-12-1 record, .913 save percentage, 2.94 goals against average).
Philadelphia is 28-33 straight up (SU) and has lost 7.3 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 61 regular season matches, 31 of its games have gone over the total, while 29 have gone under and just one has pushed. This year, the team’s 15-16 SU as the home team.
The Flyers have converted on just 17.0 percent of their power play opportunities this season, a figure that’s ranked 24th in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 27th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 76.9 percent of all opponent power plays.
Carter Hart has stopped 27.6 shots per game as the top choice in the crease for the Flyers. Hart has 13 wins, nine losses, and one OT loss to his name and has registered a mediocre 2.79 goals against average and a .917 save percentage this year.
Pittsburgh Penguins at Philadelphia Flyers Betting Predictions
Prediction: SU Winner – Penguins, O/U – Over
Betting Notes
- The Flyers are 2-1 in games decided by a shootout this season while the Penguins are 1-2 in shootouts.
- For both of these clubs, the over has hit in three of their last five outings.
- Pittsburgh has managed 29.8 shot attempts per game over its last five road games while Philadelphia has been attempting 37.0 shots per game over its last five home outings.
- Pittsburgh skaters have accounted for the league’s most hits per game (29.5), but that number’s down to just 23.8 hits over their last five away games.
