Two clubs that split their season series (one win apiece) last year, the Arizona Coyotes and the Pittsburgh Penguins face off at PPG Paints Arena in a cross-country tilt. The puck drops at 7 p.m. ET on Tuesday, November 7, and you’ll be able to watch the game live on Fox Sports Arizona.
Arizona Coyotes vs. Pittsburgh Penguins Odds
Arizona (+205) is playing the role of underdog to Pittsburgh (-245) and the oddsmakers have put the Over/Under (O/U) at an even 6 goals. The odds for betting the total stand at -120 money on the over and +100 on the under.
Pittsburgh is 8-8 straight up (SU) and has recorded -1.1 units for moneyline bettors this year. That early-season winning percentage is a big slide from what the team recorded during the 2016-17 season (50-32). Through 16 regular season outings, nine of the team’s games have gone over the total, while seven have gone under and none have pushed. This year, the team is 4-1 SU at home.
The Penguins currently tout the third-best power-play unit in the NHL, as the team has found the net on 28.8 percent of their extra-man advantages this season. On the other hand, their penalty kill is ranked 14th overall, and they’ve successfully killed off 81.3 percent of all penalties.
As a team, the Penguins have been whistled for penalties 5.0 times per game overall this season, 4.4 per game over their last five contests total, and 5.0 per game over their last five home outings. The team’s had to kill penalties for 13.8 minutes per game over their last five home outings.
Averaging 26.3 saves per game with a .902 save percentage, Matt Murray (8-5-1) has been the top option in goal for Pittsburgh this season. If head coach Mike Sullivan decides to rest him, however, the team may turn to the winless Antti Niemi (0-3-3 record, .797 save percentage, 7.49 goals against average).
Phil Kessel and Evgeni Malkin will each lead the offensive attack for the Penguins. Kessel (16 points) is up to four goals and 12 assists and has recorded two or more points three times this year. Malkin has six goals and nine assists to his credit and has recorded at least one point in 10 games.
Similar to Pittsburgh, Arizona has been unfavorable to bettors despite a good record. The team has lost 11.4 units for bettors taking the moneyline thus far, even though it’s posted a 2-14 straight up (SU) record. A total of 11 of its games have gone over the total, while three have gone under and just one has pushed. The Coyotes are 1-8 SU as the visiting team this season.
The Coyotes have converted on just 14.8 percent of their power play opportunities this year, a figure that places them in the bottom-five overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 28th overall and it’s successfully killed off 73.8 percent of all opponent power plays.
Arizona’s players have been penalized only 3.1 times per game this season, 3.2 per game over their past five contests total, and 3.4 per game over their last five on the road. The team’s had to stave off opponent power plays just 6.8 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
The winless Louis Domingue (4.33 goals against average and .856 save percentage) has been the main option in goal for Arizona. Domingue is averaging 23.7 saves per game and owns a 0-7 record.
Leading the offensive attack for the visiting Coyotes will be Clayton Keller, who’s got 11 goals and six assists this year.
Arizona Coyotes at Pittsburgh Penguins Betting Picks
Predictions: SU Winner – Penguins, O/U – Under
Betting Trends:
- The under has hit in three of Pittsburgh’s last five games.
- Arizona has managed 31.8 shot attempts per game over its last five road games while Pittsburgh has been attempting 36.0 shots per game over its last five home outings.
- Four of Arizona’s last ten games have been decided by two goals or more. The team is 0-4 in those games.
- This game features two of the tougher defenses in the league. Arizona skaters have accounted for the fourth-most hits in the league (25.4 per game) while the Pens have recorded the 11th-most (22.1).
