In their last head-to-head meeting of the regular season, the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Vancouver Canucks face off at Rogers Arena. The first puck will drop at 10 p.m. ET on Saturday, December 21, and you’ll be able to view this cross-continent matchup live on AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh.
Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Vancouver Canucks Odds
Pittsburgh (+105) is playing the role of underdog to Vancouver (-125), and the oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at an even 6 goals (-120 money on the under, +100 on the over).
Pittsburgh is 21-14 straight up (SU) and has netted 1.8 units for moneyline bettors this season. Through 35 regular season matches, 18 of its games have gone under the total, while 15 have gone over and just one has pushed. The Pens are 7-8 SU on the road in 2019-20.
Pittsburgh has converted on 17.2 percent of its power play chances this year, a mark that’s right around league average. Its penalty kill is ranked 13th overall, and the team’s successfully killed off 82.4 percent of its penalties.
Pittsburgh, as a collective unit, has been penalized just 3.0 times per game overall in the 2019-20 season, and 2.2 per game over its last five outings. The team has had to kill penalties just 6.3 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
With a .897 save percentage and 24.0 saves per game, Matt Murray (11-10-4) has been the top option in goal for Pittsburgh this year. If Pittsburgh decides to rest him, however, head coach Mike Sullivan could turn to Tristan Jarry (11-5 record, .939 save percentage, 1.86 goals against average).
Jake Guentzel and Evgeni Malkin will both look to continue their strong seasons for the visiting Penguins. Guentzel has 36 points on 17 goals and 19 assists, and has recorded multiple points in eight different games. Malkin has nine goals and 21 assists to his name, and has registered a point in 16 games.
On the other side of the ice, Vancouver is 17-19 straight up (SU) and has lost 2.8 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 36 regular season contests, 19 of its games have gone over the total, while 15 have gone under and just two have pushed. It’s 9-8 SU at home this season.
Vancouver has converted on 24.3 percent of its power play opportunities this year, a figure that’s good enough for sixth-best in the league. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 16th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 80.3 percent of all opponent power plays.
Vancouver players have been whistled for penalties 3.8 times per game this season, and 3.0 per game over their last five at home. The team’s been forced to stave off opponent power plays just 6.4 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Jacob Markstrom has denied 29.3 shots per game as the primary choice in goal for Vancouver. Markstrom has 10 wins, 14 losses, and three overtime losses to his name and has maintained a .914 save percentage and 2.75 goals against average this year.
Elias Pettersson (16 goals, 21 assists) will pace the offensive attack for the Canucks.
Pittsburgh Penguins at Vancouver Canucks Betting Predictions
NHL Pick: SU Winner – Canucks, O/U – Over
Betting Notes
- The under has hit in three of Pittsburgh’s last five outings.
- Pittsburgh has attempted 33.5 shots per game overall this season (the second-most in the NHL), and 30.1 in its last 10 games.
- The Penguins are 11-7 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 15-12 in games where they’re in the penalty box for fewer than 10 total minutes.
- Vancouver is 3-1 in games decided by a shootout this season while Pittsburgh is 2-0 in shootouts.
- Vancouver is ranked 21st in the NHL with 6.9 takeaways per game. That figure has trended higher lately, as the team has forced 7.9 takeaways over its last 10 games and 8.0 takeaways over its last five.
- Pittsburgh has given up just 3.8 goals per game (while scoring 1.8 per contest) in their last four games (the team’s a perfect 4-0 SU during that streak)
- Pittsburgh skaters have averaged 7.2 takeaways per game over its last five road games, its season average of 7.7 takeaways per game (ranked 12th in the league).
