The Philadelphia Flyers hope to avoid elimination at PPG Paints Arena in Game 5 of the postseason’s first round. The action will get going at 7 p.m. ET on Friday, April 20 and it is being shown live on NBC Sports Network.
Philadelphia Flyers at Pittsburgh Penguins Odds
With a -245 moneyline, Pittsburgh enters the contest as the substantial favorite. The line for Philadelphia sits at +205 and the Over/Under (O/U) has been set at 6 goals (-110 for the over, -110 for the under).
Pittsburgh is 50-36 straight up (SU) and has lost 0.8 units for moneyline bettors this year. That winning percentage, the second-best in the Metropolitan Division so far in the early season, is fairly close to what the team managed during last year’s regular season (50-32). Of the team’s 86 games this season, 48 have gone over the total, while 34 have gone under and just four have pushed. The team is 31-12 SU at home this year.
After accounting for the league’s strongest power-play unit in the regular season (converting 26.2 percent of all opportunities), the Penguins have connected on 26.3 percent of their postseason power play chances.
The Penguins’ offensive skaters attempted 34.3 shots per game in the regular season, leading to 3.4 goals per contest (ranked fourth overall in the NHL). In the postseason, however, the team’s dropped to an average of 31.0 shots on goal while being up to 4.5 goals per game.
With a .909 save percentage and 26.1 saves per game, Matt Murray (32-21-3) has been the top goalkeeper for Pittsburgh this season. If the Pens choose to give him a rest, however, the team might go with Tristan Jarry (15-11-11 record, .908 save percentage, 2.77 goals against average).
Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby will each lead the charge for the Penguins. Malkin (103 points) has tallied 45 goals and 58 assists and has recorded two or more points in 27 different games this year. Crosby has 34 goals and 64 assists to his credit and has recorded a point in 57 contests.
On the other side of the rink, Philadelphia is 43-43 straight up (SU) and has lost 3.7 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 86 regular season contests, 45 of its games have gone over the total, while 37 have gone under and just four have pushed. As an away team, the Flyers are 21-22 SU.
The Flyers have converted on 20.1 percent of their power play opportunities this season, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 29th overall and it’s successfully defended 75.7 percent of all opponent power plays.
Philadelphia’s skaters have been whistled for penalties 3.5 times per game in total this season, and 4.6 per game over their last five road outings. The team has had to defend opponent power plays 10.8 minutes per game over their last five road outings.
Brian Elliott (2.80 goals against average and .905 save percentage) has been the main option in goal for Philadelphia. Elliott is averaging 25.5 saves per game and has 25 wins, 22 losses, and seven OT losses to his credit.
For the visiting Flyers, the offense will be coordinated by Claude Giroux, who’s got 69 assists and 34 goals this year.
Philadelphia Flyers at Pittsburgh Penguins Free Picks
Prediction: SU Winner – Penguins, O/U – Over
Notes
Betting Trends
Philadelphia’s attempted 31.7 shots per game overall this season (ranked 17th in the NHL), and 29.2 in its last 10 games.
Over Pittsburgh’s last ten outings, eight of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 5-3 in those games).
The Penguins this season have tallied the sixth-most hits per game (24.0), but that number has risen to 28.8 over their last five home outings.
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