The Honda Center will be hosting an East-West matchup as the Anaheim Ducks square off against the visiting Pittsburgh Penguins. It’s the last time that these two clubs will meet in the regular season. This one will get underway at 10 p.m. ET on Wednesday, January 17 and it’ll be shown live on NBC Sports Network.
Pittsburgh Penguins at Anaheim Ducks Odds
Pittsburgh (-105) is entering this one as the underdog to Anaheim (-115), and the Over/Under (O/U) is set at 6 goals (-105 for the over, -115 for the under). Those O/U odds have moved after initially opening at -110 for either.
Pittsburgh is 24-22 straight up (SU) and has lost 5.4 units for moneyline bettors thus far. 23 of its contests have gone over the total, while 21 have gone under and just two have pushed. This 2017-18 Penguins team is 9-14 SU on the road.
Pittsburgh enters the match up with the second-best power-play unit in the NHL, as it’s converted on 26.5 percent of its extra-man opportunities this season. Its penalty kill is ranked ninth overall, and it has successfully killed off 82.6 percent of all penalties.
For the team as a whole, the Pens have been penalized 4.2 times per game overall this season, and 3.2 per game over its last five on the road. The team has had to stave off opponent power plays just 7.6 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Averaging 24.7 saves per game with a .903 save percentage, Matt Murray (17-14-1) has been the top option in goal for Pittsburgh this year. If head coach Mike Sullivan decides to rest him, however, Pittsburgh could turn to Tristan Jarry (10-7-2 record, .923 save percentage, 2.33 goals against average).
Phil Kessel and Sidney Crosby will both lead the offensive attack for the visiting Penguins. Kessel has 52 points on 20 goals and 32 assists, and has recorded multiple points in 12 different games. Crosby has 17 goals and 30 assists to his creditand has registered at least one point in 27 games.
Anaheim is 20-25 straight up (SU) and has lost 3.1 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 45 regular season matches, 29 of its games have gone under the total, while 15 have gone over and just one has pushed. It’s 10-11 SU as the home team this year.
The Ducks have converted on just 17.2 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 sixth overall, and it’s successfully killed off 83.8 percent of all opponent power plays.
Anaheim skaters have been called for penalties 4.7 times per game in total this season, and 3.4 per game over their last five at home. The team has been forced to defend opponent power plays a whopping 15.6 minutes per game over their last five outings.
John Gibson has denied 29.9 shots per game as the top choice in goal for the Ducks. Gibson has 14 wins, 20 losses, and six overtime losses and has recorded a pedestrian 2.63 goals against average and a .923 save percentage this season.
Rickard Rakell (15 goals, 17 assists) will lead the attack for the Ducks.
Pittsburgh Penguins at Anaheim Ducks Free Picks
Predictions: SU Winner – Penguins, O/U – Over
Notes
Betting Trends
Anaheim is 2-5 in games decided by a shootout this season while Pittsburgh is 2-1 in shootouts.
The total has gone under in four of Anaheim’s last five games.
Pittsburgh has attempted 34.7 shots per contest overall this season (the most in the NHL), and 32.2 in its last five road outings.
Six of Anaheim’s last ten games have been decided by two or more goals. The team is 4-2 overall in those games.
This game features two of the more aggressive teams in the league. Pittsburgh skaters have accounted for the league’s fourth-most hits per game (24.3) while the Ducks have handed the seventh-most (23.5).
