PPG Paints Arena will be hosting a divisional clash as the Philadelphia Flyers pay a visit to Western PA to face the Pittsburgh Penguins. It’s the fourth and last time that the two clubs will meet in the regular season. This one will get started at 0:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, March 25 and it can be caught live on NBC.
Philadelphia Flyers at Pittsburgh Penguins Odds
Pittsburgh (-170) is currently favored over Philadelphia (+150), and the oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at an even 6 goals (-130 money on the over, +110 on the under).
Losing -2.9 units for moneyline bettors, the Penguins are 42-33 straight up (SU) overall this year. That winning percentage, the second-best in the Metropolitan Division so far in this young season, is a slide from what the team managed during the 2016-17 season (50-32). Through 75 regular season contests, 42 of its games have gone over the total, while 31 have gone under and just two have pushed. The team is 27-10 SU at home this year.
Pittsburgh currently has the second-strongest power-play unit in the NHL, as it has converted on 26.0 percent of their extra-man advantages this year. On the other hand, its penalty kill is rated 18th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 80.3 percent of all penalties.
As a collective unit, Pittsburgh has been penalized 4.0 times per game overall this season, and 3.2 per game over its last five home outings. The team has been forced to stave off opponent power plays for just 7.1 minutes per game over its last 10 matchups, overall.
Averaging 26.0 saves per game with a .908 save percentage, Matt Murray (25 wins, 18 losses, and three OT losses) has been the primary option in goal for the Penguins this year. If head coach Mike Sullivan decides to give him a rest, however, the team might roll with Tristan Jarry (15-11-11 record, .908 save percentage, 2.77 goals against average).
The Pens will continue seeking offensive production from Evgeni Malkin and Phil Kessel. Malkin (91 points) is up to 41 goals and 50 assists and has recorded two or more points on 25 separate occasions this year. Kessel has 30 goals and 53 assists to his credit and has recorded a point in 52 contests.
Philadelphia is 38-37 straight up (SU) and has lost 2.8 units for bettors taking the moneyline thus far. Through 75 regular season matches, 40 of its games have gone over the total, while 33 have gone under and just two have pushed. Philadelphia’s 19-18 SU as a road team this season.
Philadelphia has converted on 20.2 percent of its power play opportunities this year, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 26th overall and it’s successfully killed off 76.1 percent of all penalties.
Philadelphia’s players have been penalized 3.5 times per game this season, and 2.4 per game over their last five outings. The team’s had to kill penalties just 7.2 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Brian Elliott (.908 save percentage and 2.72 goals against average) has been the primary option in goal for Philadelphia. Elliott is averaging 26.3 saves per game and has 22 wins, 19 losses, and seven OT losses to his credit.
Claude Giroux (26 goals, 64 assists) has been one of the top offensive facilitators for the visiting Flyers.
Philadelphia Flyers at Pittsburgh Penguins Betting Predictions
Prediction: SU Winner – Penguins, O/U – Under
Notes
Betting Trends
The over has hit in four of Pittsburgh’s last five games.
Philadelphia has attempted 31.9 shots per contest overall this season (ranked 16th in the NHL), and 33.5 in its last 10 games.
Power-play chances may play a key role in the outcome of this one. The Flyers are 17-19 in games where they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 29-20 when they’re in the penalty box for fewer than 10 total minutes. The Penguins are 20-11 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than the opposition and 26-21 when their penalty minutes are in the single digits.
Philadelphia is 2-7 in games decided by a shootout this season while Pittsburgh is 2-2 in shootouts.
Pittsburgh is ranked 20th in the league this season with 6.9 takeaways per game. That figure has trended down, however, as it has averaged 6.0 takeaways over its last 10 games and 6.0 takeaways over its last five.
Philadelphia skaters have created 7.8 takeaways per game over its last five road games, an improvement over its season average of 5.9 takeaways per game (ranked 28th in the league).
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