The Philadelphia Flyers look to even the series at one game apiece at PPG Paints Arena in Game 2 of the NHL postseason’s opening round. The match gets going at 7 p.m. ET on Friday, April 13, and it’ll be broadcasted live on NBC Sports Network.
Philadelphia Flyers vs. Pittsburgh Penguins Odds
Philadelphia (+180) is entering this one as the underdog to Pittsburgh (-215), and the oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at 6 goals. The odds for betting the total sit at -115 money on the over and -105 for the under.
Losing -0.7 units for moneyline bettors, Pittsburgh is 48-35 straight up (SU) overall this year. That winning percentage, ranked 2nd in the Metropolitan Division in this young season, is fairly close to the 50-32 record the team posted during the 2016-17 season campaign. Through 83 regular season contests, 48 of the team’s games have gone over the total, while 33 have gone under and just two have pushed. The team is 31-11 SU at home this year.
The Penguins enter the matchup with the strongest power-play unit in the NHL, as they have converted on 26.1 percent of their extra-man chances this season. On the other hand, their penalty kill is ranked 17th overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 80.3 percent of all penalties.
As a collective unit, the Penguins have been penalized 4.0 times per game overall this season, 4.0 per game over their past five matchups total, and 4.0 per game over their last five home outings. The team’s had to kill penalties for 8.8 minutes per game over their last 10 outings, in total.
Averaging 26.3 saves per game with a .908 save percentage, Matt Murray (30 wins, 20 losses, and three OT losses) has been the best option in goal for Pittsburgh this season. If the Pens decide to rest him, however, head coach Mike Sullivan may roll with Tristan Jarry (15-11-11 record, .908 save percentage, 2.77 goals against average).
Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby will both lead the way for the Penguins. Malkin (99 points) is up to 43 goals and 56 assists and has recorded two or more points 26 times this year. Crosby has 32 goals and 60 assists to his name and has notched at least one point in 55 games.
On the other side of the rink, Philadelphia is 42-41 straight up (SU) and has lost 3.5 units for bettors taking the moneyline this year. Through 83 regular season outings, 45 of its games have gone over the total, while 36 have gone under and just two have pushed. The Flyers are 20-22 SU as the visiting team this season.
The Flyers have converted on 20.4 percent of their power play opportunities this year, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 29th overall and it’s successfully killed off 75.9 percent of all opponent power plays.
Philadelphia’s players have been penalized 3.4 times per game in total this season, 3.6 per game over their past five contests total, and 3.6 per game over their last five road outings. The team has been forced to kill penalties just 6.0 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Brian Elliott (25.7 saves per game) has been the main option in goal for Philadelphia. Elliott has 24 wins, 20 losses, and seven overtime losses to his credit, and has registered a .906 save percentage and 2.75 goals against average this year.
Claude Giroux (34 goals, 68 assists) has been one of the primary offensive facilitators for the visiting Flyers.
Philadelphia Flyers at Pittsburgh Penguins Betting Predictions
Free Pick: SU Winner – Penguins, O/U – Under
Notes
Betting Notes
The total has gone over in three of Pittsburgh’s last five outings.
Over Pittsburgh’s last ten outings, six of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 4-2 in those games).
The Pens this season have handed the sixth-most hits per game (23.8), but that number has risen to 26.4 over their past five home games.
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