PPG Paints Arena plays host to an enticing matchup as the Pittsburgh Penguins face off against the visiting Vegas Golden Knights. This East-West matchup will get underway at 7 p.m. ET on Saturday, October 19, and it’ll be shown live on AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh.
Vegas Golden Knights at Pittsburgh Penguins Odds
The money line for each team is currently set at an identical -110, and the Over/Under (O/U) is set at 7 goals. If you want to play this matchup’s total, you’ll be looking at odds of -110 for the over and -110 on the under.
Netting moneyline bettors 1.6 units, the Penguins are 6-2 straight up (SU) overall this year. That winning percentage, ranked third in the NHL so far in this young season, is a solid improvement compared to what the team did during the 2018-19 season (44-38). Four of the team’s eight matches have gone under the total, while three have gone over and none have pushed. The team’s 4-2 SU at home this year.
Pittsburgh’s successfully scored on 21.4 percent of its power play opportunities in 2019-20. That’s a significant drop-off from last season, when it was ranked fifth in the league by scoring on 23.8 percent of its extra-man opportunities. Its penalty kill has improved nicely year-over-year as the team’s gone from successfully defending 80.0 percent of opponents’ power plays (ranked 17th overall last season) to 83.3 percent this year.
Pittsburgh, as a collective unit, has been penalized just 2.8 times per game this season, a number that has improved from the 3.4 penalties per game given up last year. After serving an average of 8.3 penalty minutes per game a season ago the team’s been forced to kill penalties for 7.5 minutes per outing this year.
Sporting a .914 save percentage and 27.4 saves per game, Matt Murray (5-2) has been the principal goalkeeper for the Penguins this year. Murray did just play last night, however, so the team might opt to give him a breather and roll with Tristan Jarry instead (1-0 record, .931 save percentage, 2.00 goals against average).
Sidney Crosby and Kris Letang will both look to continue their strong starts for the Penguins. Crosby (12 points) has tallied four goals and eight assists while Letang has four goals and six assists to his credit so far in the early stages of the season.
On the visiting bench, Vegas is 5-3 straight up (SU) and has earned 1.1 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through eight regular season contests, four of its games have gone over the total, while an additional four have gone under the total and none have pushed. As the visiting team so far, Vegas is 2-1 SU.
Vegas has scored on 29.6 percent of its power play chances this year after converting on 18.4 percent of its extra-man opportunities in 2018-19 (a mark that was just below league average). The team’s gone from successfully defending 80.3 percent of opponent power plays (ranked 15th overall last season) to 93.5 percent this year.
Vegas’ skaters have been whistled for penalties 4.6 times per game this season, a number that’s risen noticeably from the 3.4 penalties per game given up last year. After serving an average of 7.8 penalty minutes per game a year ago, the team’s been forced to stave off opponent power plays for a whopping 13.4 minutes per matchup this season.
Marc-Andre Fleury (2.46 goals against average and .926 save percentage) has been the primary option in goal for Vegas. Fleury is averaging 29.9 saves per game and owns a 5-3 record.
Mark Stone (five goals, six assists) and Max Pacioretty (two goals, seven assists) are the top point-getters for Vegas and will lead the attack for the visiting Golden Knights.
Vegas Golden Knights at Pittsburgh Penguins Free Picks
Pick: SU Winner – Golden Knights, O/U – Over
Betting Notes
- After registering a 3-2 record in games decided by a shootout last year, Vegas is off to a 1-0 start in shootouts this season. Pittsburgh was 2-3 in shootouts last year and has yet to participate in one this time around.
- The under has hit in three of Pittsburgh’s last five games.
- After averaging 34.4 shots per game as a team last season (the most in the league), Vegas has attempted 36.3 shots per game overall this season, and 36.3 in its last 10 outings.
- Pittsburgh has averaged 4.6 goals per game (while giving up just 2.2) in its last five games (the team is a perfect 5-0 SU over that span).
- Vegas skaters created 29.1 hits per game last season, while the Penguins posted 29.5 hits per contest.
