Florida Panthers at Pittsburgh Penguins odds, picks and predictions
The Florida Panthers (29-14-4) visit the Pittsburgh Penguins (21-17-6) Friday. The opening faceoff at PPG Paints Arena is slated for 7 p.m. ET (ESPN+). Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook's lines around the Panthers vs. Penguinsodds, and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
Florida is fresh off a Wednesday 6-2 conquest of the Arizona Coyotes. The Panthers have scored 14 goals over their last 3 games and 4.08 goals per games since Dec. 29.
The Penguins' last game was Monday when they fell 5-2 at the Coyotes. The loss marked Pittsburgh's 4th in its last 5 games (1-2-2).
The Panthers and Pens are meeting for the 2nd time this season. Florida defeated Pittsburgh 3-1 in Miami on Dec. 8.
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Panthers at Penguins odds
BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 8:38 a.m. ET.
Panthers at Penguins projected goalies
Sergei Bobrovsky (22-10-2, 2.53 GAA, .909 SV%) vs. Tristan Jarry (12-14-4, 2.56 GAA, .913 SV%)
Bobrovsky was in net for the Arizona win. He stopped 31 of 33 shots in what was a solid rebound from a Jan. 13-19 stretch of 3 games that saw him log an .846 SV%. The 35-year-old has registered a .930-or-better SV% in 4 of his last 5 road starts.
Jarry started against the Coyotes and allowed 4 goals on 26 shots. But he's clocked a .976 SV% over his last 2 starts at home.
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Panthers at Penguins picks and predictions
Prediction
Panthers 4, Penguins 3
Florida's 2.60 goals allowed per game rank 4th in the NHL, and the club's 5-on-5 expected goals allowed backs up that number. And with that end still secure, the Panthers have a added a lot at the other end of late.
Pittsburgh is a bit more banged up, and its dismal powerplay (0 for its last 14 and just 13.3% for the season) does not figure as a wild card against the defensively responsible Panthers.
BACK FLORIDA -120.
PASS. The juice is loose; better relative value to be had on the ML play above.
The Under has gone 13-8 in Pittsburgh home games and 17-7 in Florida road tilts. But the 5-on-5 expected-vs.-actual goals (for and against) would make this one a slight lean toward a 7-goal game.
The Pens' conversion rate on high-danger looks of late has been near the bottom of the league. That's an impactful regression that seems imminent. Will those numbers start to turn against Florida? Maybe not, but the Panthers can counter with a 5-spot of their own the way they are going at that end.
Consider a partial-unit play on the OVER 6 (-120).
