The BB&T Center will be hosting an intriguing showdown as the Florida Panthers take on the visiting Pittsburgh Penguins. It’s the third and final time that these two clubs will go at it in the regular season. The opening face-off takes place at 7 p.m. ET on Saturday, February 8, and you’ll be able to witness this Eastern Conference matchup live on AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh.
Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Florida Panthers Odds
Pittsburgh (-115) is being picked as the favorite over Florida (-105), and the Over/Under (O/U) is set at 7 goals. The line for betting that total stands at -125 over, +105 under.
Pittsburgh is 33-20 straight up (SU) and has netted 8.6 units for moneyline bettors this season. 26 of its matches have gone over the total, while another 26 have gone under and just one has pushed. The Pens are 14-12 SU on the road in 2019-20.
Pittsburgh has converted on 19.2 percent of its power play chances this year, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, it has the ninth-best penalty kill in the league, and the team’s successfully killed off 82.6 percent of its penalties.
For the team as a whole, Pittsburgh has been penalized just 3.3 times per game overall this season, and 4.8 per game over its last five on the road. The team has had to kill penalties just 8.3 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
With a .900 save percentage and 25.1 saves per game, Matt Murray (17-12-4) has been the top option in goal for Pittsburgh this season. If head coach Mike Sullivan decides to rest him, however, the team may go with Tristan Jarry (17-9-1 record, .928 save percentage, 2.19 goals against average).
Evgeni Malkin and Bryan Rust will both spearhead the attack for the visiting Penguins. Malkin has 56 points on 17 goals and 39 assists, and has recorded multiple points in 16 different games. Rust has 22 goals and 23 assists to his name, and has logged at least one point in 28 games.
On the other side of the rink, Florida is 29-24 straight up (SU) and has earned 3.5 units for moneyline bettors this year. 32 of its outings have gone over the total, while 18 have gone under and just three have pushed. This year, the team’s 16-11 SU at home.
Florida has converted on 23.5 percent of its power play chances this season, a figure that’s good enough for sixth-best in the league. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 23rd overall, and it’s successfully killed off 77.9 percent of all opponent power plays.
Florida players have been sent to the penalty box only 3.3 times per game this season, 3.2 per game over their last five match ups total, and 3.8 per game over their last five at home. The team has had to kill penalties just 7.9 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Sergei Bobrovsky (27.1 saves per game) has been the primary selection in the crease for Florida. Bobrovsky has 21 wins, 20 losses, and five overtime losses and has registered a mediocre 3.28 goals against average and a fairly-weak .898 save percentage this season.
Jonathan Huberdeau (19 goals, 49 assists) will pace the offensive counter for Florida.
Pittsburgh Penguins at Florida Panthers Free Picks
Pick: SU Winner – Penguins, O/U – Over
Betting Trends
- Florida is 3-3 in games decided by a shootout this season while Pittsburgh is 3-0 in shootouts.
- Pittsburgh has attempted 32.2 shots per contest overall this season (ranked 11th in the NHL), and 28.5 in its last 10 outings.
- Four of Pittsburgh’s last ten games have been decided by two goals or more. The team is 1-3 in those games.
- Pittsburgh skaters have accounted for the third-most hits in the league (28.4 per game).
