The Pittsburgh Penguins will host the Philadelphia Flyers tonight in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference playoff series. The Pens are gunning for their third straight Stanley Cup and have been lights out in their barn since the all-star break at 13-3 SU in 16 games. The Penguins opened as -170 favorites to knock off Philly and take the Sportsbook game of the series.
- The Penguins are 18-3 SU in their last 21 games as home favorites.
- The total has gone OVER in nine of the Flyers’ last 12 games.
- The Penguins are 6-0 SU in their last six games in the playoffs at home.
Pittsburgh’s offense has done most of the heavy lifting to carry the Pens to the postseason as the trio of Evgeni Malkin, Phil Kessel and Sidney Crosby combined for 105 goals and 279 points this season. As a result, the Penguins were the fifth-highest scoring team in the league this season, but defensively they have shown weakness in their own end by allowing just over three goals per game, which is their highest average since 2005.
That mark is exactly why goaltender Matt Murray will be counted on greatly if Pittsburgh is to win its third Stanley Cup in a row. Murray was excellent at PPG Paints Arena this season at 17-7 SU in his 24 starts at home with a 2.80 goals-against average and .915 save percentage. Those stats bode extremely well for the Penguins as they’ve won four straight vs Philly and outscored the Flyers 20-11 in those contests.
If Philadelphia wants to pull off the upset, it may need to outscore the Penguins and with the way Claude Giroux has been playing, scoring shouldn’t be an issue. The Flyers captain notched 32 goals and 102 points (both career highs) this season but just like Pittsburgh, it may all come down to goaltending, which has been a nightmare position for Philly for most of the year. Michal Neuvirth and Brian Elliott have both seen time on the IR which means third-stringer Petr Mrazek will get the nod in net. Mrazek has dropped six of his last nine starts and allowed five goals when he faced Pittsburgh on March 7.
The total opened at 6 goals and trends are pointing to an OVER in this tilt. The total has gone OVER in the last five games in this matchup with an average combined score of 7.8 goals per game and eight of the last 10 games overall.
Sportsbook Odds & Computer Pick
On the Sportsbook NHL betting line for this matchup, Pittsburgh sat as a -118 favorite over at Sportsbook. The total was set at 6 at Sportsbook but may move closer to puck drop.
OddsShark prediction models pick the Flyers to win this game 2.9-2.7. View the computer score prediction and who will win the pick on the moneyline for all upcoming NHL matchups here.
Philadelphia Flyers vs Pittsburgh Penguins Matchup
Team Betting Records & Power Rankings
The Pittsburgh Penguins are 47-29-6 so far on the season. The Philadelphia Flyers, meanwhile, are 42-26-14. OVER/UNDER betting fans have seen Pittsburgh go 47-33-2 and the Flyers go 43-37-2 on the totals. Stay Informed: follow us on Twitter for odds specials, betting line moves and Pittsburgh vs Philadelphia injuries news.
This game matches up the No. 5 (Pittsburgh) and the No. 16 (Philadelphia) teams according to our current NHL Power Rankings.
Statistical Matchup
The game also pits Pittsburgh's No. 5-ranked offense, averaging 3.32 goals per game, against a Flyers defense that ranks No. 16 at 2.96 goals allowed. The Penguins power play is averaging 26.15% while the Flyers defense kills off 75.89% of their penalties.
Recent Outings Betting Recap
Philadelphia won its last outing, a 5-0 result against the Rangers on April 7. Bettors who backed the Flyers at -262 on the moneyline won on the day, and the total score (5) sent UNDER bettors to the payout window.
Last time out for Pittsburgh, they were a 4-0 Sportsbook as they battled the Senators at home. Moneyline bettors who got the Penguins at -277 were rewarded, while the 4 combined goals moved the game UNDER for totals bettors.
- Philadelphia is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
- The total has gone OVER in 9 of Philadelphia's last 12 games
- Philadelphia is 5-2 ATS in its last 7 games on the road
- Philadelphia is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games on the road
- Pittsburgh is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
- The total has gone OVER in 7 of Pittsburgh's last 9 games
- Pittsburgh is 18-3 SU in its last 21 games at home
- The total has gone OVER in 4 of Pittsburgh's last 6 games at home
Next Betting Matchups
Philadelphia at Pittsburgh, Friday, April 13
