Two teams squaring off for the third time this year, the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Philadelphia Flyers collide at the Wells Fargo Center for a divisional tilt. The action will get going at 8 p.m. ET on Wednesday, March 7, and you will be able to see it live on NBC Sports Network.
Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Philadelphia Flyers Odds
The money line for either team is currently set at an identical -110, and the oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at an even 6 goals. The line for betting that total stands at -120 over, +100 under.
Pittsburgh is 38-29 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 0.3 units this season. Through 67 regular season contests, 36 of its games have gone over the total, while 29 have gone under and just two have pushed. This 2017-18 Penguins team is 13-20 SU on the road.
Pittsburgh currently touts the second-best power-play unit in the NHL, as it’s converted on 26.4 percent of its extra-man advantages this season. Its penalty kill is ranked 12th overall, and it has successfully killed off 81.7 percent of all penalties.
For the team as a whole, the Pens have been penalized 4.1 times per game overall this season, and 3.3 per game over its past ten games. The team’s had to kill penalties just 8.3 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Averaging 25.7 saves per game with a .909 save percentage, Matt Murray (25-16-2) has been the best option in goal for Pittsburgh this year. If head coach Mike Sullivan chooses to rest him, however, Pittsburgh might turn to Tristan Jarry (13-10-2), who has a .913 save percentage and 2.69 goals against average this year.
Evgeni Malkin and Phil Kessel will both lead the way for the visiting Penguins. Malkin has 82 points on 37 goals and 45 assists, and has recorded multiple points in 20 different games. Kessel has 27 goals and 49 assists to his credit, and has registered a point in 46 games.
On the other side of the ice, Philadelphia is 34-32 straight up (SU) and has lost 1.1 units for moneyline bettors this year. 34 of its matches have gone over the total, while 30 have gone under and just two have pushed. This year, the team’s 16-16 SU as the home team.
The Flyers have converted on just 20.6 percent of their power play opportunities this year, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 29th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 75.3 percent of all penalties.
Philadelphia players have been penalized 3.5 times per game in total this season, and 2.6 per game over their last five at home. The team’s been forced to stave off opponent power plays just 7.3 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Brian Elliott has denied 26.3 shots per game as the top option in goal for the Flyers. Elliott has 22 wins, 19 losses, and seven OT losses to his credit and has recorded a poor .908 save percentage and 2.72 goals against average this season.
The home team will be led on offense by Claude Giroux (23 goals, 55 assists).
Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Philadelphia Flyers Free Picks
Pick: SU Winner – Penguins, O/U – Under
Notes
Betting Notes
Over Pittsburgh’s last ten games, six of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 5-1 in those games).
Extra-man opportunities could prove to be critical tonight. The Penguins are 18-10 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 24-18 in games where they serve fewer than 10 penalty minutes, in total. The Flyers are 17-14 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than the opposition and 26-15 when they’re in the box for less than 10 minutes.
Three of Philadelphia’s last ten games have gone to a shootout. The team is 1-2 in those games and 2-6 overall in shootouts this season.
The total has gone under in three of Philadelphia’s last five outings.
Philadelphia has allowed 2.9 goals per game (overall) this season, but is giving up 5.0 goals per matchup over its three-game losing streak.
Philadelphia is ranked 13th this season with 9.3 giveaways per game. That figure has regressed, as it’s averaged 11.0 giveaways over its last 10 games and 10.4 giveaways over its last five.
Pittsburgh is ranked 12th this season with 8.6 giveaways per game. That figure has trended higher, as the team’s averaged 9.5 giveaways over its last 10 games and 11.0 giveaways over its last five.
Pittsburgh skaters have given out the eighth-most hits in the league (24.1 per game), but the team’s averaged just 20.6 hits over their last five away games.
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