Flyers vs Penguins Prediction, Preview, Odds, Picks, Mar 11
Pens Heavily Favored in Primetime
The Philadelphia Flyers have lost six of seven and have now fired General Manager Chuck Fletcher. That’s not an unexpected NHL news headline, as the Flyers have been terrible this season.
That doesn’t mean that they can’t play spoiler for a few playoff hopefuls teams, such as the Pittsburgh Penguins. The two teams are state rivals and we may get a close game – even if the Pens are a huge favorite in the sportsbook.
Pittsburgh needs to end this season strong if it plans to make a run in the postseason. The Pens have won five of seven, so will they keep it going on Saturday?
Philadelphia Looking for Spark
The Flyers have been one of the worst offenses in the league regarding goals scored per game, and firing a General Manager isn’t usually seen as a spark.
This lack of an offensive punch has resulted in the team holding onto a horrific goal differential at -44. Simply put, this group just doesn’t play very well on the offensive end of the ice and will need to change that against a veteran Pittsburgh group that will put up some numbers.
They’ll also need to make up for the absence of defenseman Tony DeAngelo, who was recently hit with a two-game suspension due to a dirty shot he delivered a few days ago.
Those who bet online should note that he is not only fourth on the team in points, but he also chews up 22:06 of ice time per game.
Philadelphia is going to have a tough challenge ahead of them, but they are capable of turning it up a notch on the road here.
Penguins Home-Ice Edge Should Be Key
The Pens have been up and down this season, but mostly up at home. They are 17-9-5 at home compared to 15-13-5 on the road. The Flyers are just 12-15-7 on the road, so that should give an NHL betting edge to Pittsburgh.
Pittsburgh is led by Sidney Crosby, who remains one of the most impactful players in his position. He’s already surpassed the 75-point mark coming into this game, leading the team in that category.
He also has a great supporting cast, with Evgeni Malkin and Jake Guenztel playing alongside him.
The goaltending has been fairly inconsistent as of late, though. Starter Tristan Jary missed some time with an injury and has been searching for his footing since returning to action.
Before making your NHL picks, note that Jarry has allowed at least four goals in three straight starts, which might help out the lagging Flyers offense.
Flyers vs Penguins Game Injuries
Flyers vs Penguins Head-to-Head
We’ve seen one previous matchup between these teams this season, with Pittsburgh winning 4-1 in November.
Flyers vs Penguins Game Information
- Game: Flyers (24-30-11) vs Penguins (32-22-10)
- Location: PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh, PA
- Day/Time: Saturday, March 11th, 3:30 p.m. ET
- Flyers vs Penguins Live Stream: NHL.TV
Flyers vs Penguins Betting Lines
Flyers vs Penguins Picks and Prediction
There’s no reason to like the Flyers on the NHL betting odds here. The Pens should run away with this one, so either take them on the moneyline or on the puckline – if the juice scares you.
The Flyers are pulse-less these days. They’ve been a bad road team all season long and now face a team that’s fairly strong at home. It’s Pens or nothing in terms of betting on this one.
Pittsburgh is listed at -270 in our Vegas lines. So, if you wager $100 on the Penguins, there’s a chance to win $37. Flyers is +230 with a chance to win $230 on a $100 wager.
The implied probability attached to the betting lines gives the Penguins a 72.97% chance to win, with the Flyers at 30.30%.
