PPG Paints Arena is playing host an East-West matchup as the Pittsburgh Penguins face off against the Vegas Golden Knights. It’s the last time that these two clubs will meet in the regular season. The match gets underway at 7 p.m. ET on Tuesday, February 6, and you’ll be able to catch the game live on TVA Sports.
Vegas Golden Knights at Pittsburgh Penguins Odds
Pittsburgh enters the game as the favorite with a -125 moneyline. The line for Vegas sits at +105, and the Over/Under (O/U) has been set at 6 goals. The odds for betting the total stand at -110 for the over and -110 on the under.
Vegas is 35-17 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 21.1 units this season. Through 52 regular season contests, 29 of its games have gone over the total, while 21 have gone under and just two have pushed. The Knights are 16-12 SU on the road in 2017-18.
Vegas has converted on 21.3 percent of its power play opportunities this year, a figure that’s good enough for ninth-best in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked fifth overall, and it’s successfully killed off 82.9 percent of all penalties.
The Knights, as a collective unit, have been whistled for penalties just 3.3 times per game overall this season, 2.8 per game over its past five games total, and 3.4 per game over its last five on the road. The teams had to stave off opponent power plays just 6.5 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Averaging 28.6 saves per game with a .939 save percentage, Marc-Andre Fleury (15-6-2) has been the top option in goal for Vegas this year. If it decides to rest him, however, Vegas could turn to Malcolm Subban (12-4-1 record, .912 save percentage, 2.59 goals against average).
Jonathan Marchessault and David Perron will both lead the way for the visiting Golden Knights. Marchessault has 50 points on 18 goals and 32 assists, and has recorded two or more points in 14 different games. Perron has 13 goals and 33 assists to his creditand has logged at least one point in 33 games.
On the other bench, Pittsburgh is 29-25 straight up (SU) and has lost 3.4 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 54 regular season outings, 27 of its games have gone over the total, while 25 have gone under and just two have pushed. It’s 19-8 SU at home this year.
The Penguins enter the matchup with the second-strongest power-play unit in the NHL, as they’ve scored on 27.6 percent of their extra-man advantages this year. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked fifth overall, and it’s successfully killed off 82.8 percent of all penalties.
Pittsburgh skaters have been penalized 4.2 times per game in total this season, 4.6 per game over their last five games total, and 4.4 per game over their last five at home. The teams been forced to kill penalties 11.0 minutes per game over their last five home outings.
Matt Murray (25.3 saves per game) has been the primary choice in goal for the Penguins. Murray has 19 wins, 14 losses, and one overtime loss and has maintained a fairly-weak .905 save percentage and 2.93 goals against average this season.
Phil Kessel (23 goals, 40 assists) will lead the offensive attack for the Pens.
Vegas Golden Knights at Pittsburgh Penguins Free Picks
NHL Tip: SU Winner – Penguins, O/U – Under
Betting Trends
- Over Pittsburgh’s last ten outings, nine of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 7-2 in those games).
- The Golden Knights are 11-8 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 25-12 in games where they’re in the box for fewer than 10 total penalty minutes.
- Pittsburgh is 2-1 in games decided by a shootout this season while Vegas is 2-2 in shootouts.
- The total has gone over in three of Pittsburgh’s last five games.
- Pittsburgh has averaged 7.0 giveaways over its last five home games, an improvement from its season average of 8.5 giveaways per game (the 11th-fewest in the NHL).
- Vegas is ranked 16th this season with 9.4 giveaways per game. That figure has trended down, however, as the teams averaged 6.8 giveaways over its last 10 games and 7.6 giveaways over its last five.
- The Penguins this season have handed the sixth-most hits in the NHL (24.5 per game), but the club has averaged 30.4 over their past five home outings.
