Flyers vs. Penguins Odds
| Flyers Odds | +250 |
| Penguins Odds | -320 |
| Over/Under | 6 (-130o / +110u) |
| Time | 7 p.m. ET |
| TV | ESPN+ |
| Odds via DraftKings. Get up-to-the-minute NHL Odds here. | |
The Philadelphia Flyers and the Pittsburgh Penguins will face off in a Metropolitan Division battle on Tuesday night in Pittsburgh.
Philadelphia enters this matchup in the midst of a forgettable season, one that has seen it win just 15 games and sit in eighth in the Metro. On the other hand, the Penguins are having a marvelous season and find themselves in first place in the Metropolitan with a record of 30-11-8.
To make matters worse for the Flyers, they will be forced to play this game without several key players due to various injuries. Can they turn things around even while short-handed, or will we see Pittsburgh take control on its home ice?
Nothing Going Right for Flyers
The Philadelphia Flyers have dug themselves quite a hole, and it seems impossible they dig out of it.
This is an offensive attack that has been far below average, and due to the recent injuries to Sean Couturier, Joel Farabee and the continued absence of Kevin Hayes, it doesn't look like things are going to get any easier.
Through 47 games, the Flyers are scoring just 2.13 goals per 60 minutes in 5-on-5 situations, the fifth-lowest amount in the NHL. They have also only scored 80 total goals as a team in similar situations, further highlighting their inability to consistently put pucks in the back of the net.
Philadelphia also lacks a defensive presence on the ice this season, which only further complicates the issues. In 5-on-5, the Flyers have 2.72 Expected Goals Against per 60 minutes (xGA/60) and have surrendered 101 total goals, two more categories in which this team ranks in the bottom 10.
In the offseason, the Flyers traded for Ryan Ellis to help plug up some holes on that end of the ice, but he has only played in four games and, as a result, none of the defensive issues of the past have been fixed.
Due to not improving on defense, Carter Hart has often been left on an island, but he has performed much better than his 9-16-5 record indicates and has kept Philly in some games. Hart is expected to make the start on Tuesday, and in 5-on-5 this season he has posted an SV % of .923 and 7.6 Goals Saved Above Expected (GSAx).
Penguins Going Through Offensive Lull
The Penguins have shown the rest of the NHL that they are serious contenders.
Pittsburgh has put itself at the top of the league because of its defense, which has been spectacular up to this point. Entering this matchup, the Penguins have an xGA/60 mark of 2.28, sixth-best in the NHL. What is more impressive is that number has decreased to 2.15 in Pittsburgh's last 10 games, a big reason why they are 6-3-1 in that stretch.
While great things can be said about the defense, the Penguins' scoring attack hasn't always been equal to their performance on the other end of the ice.
In their last 10 games, this team has seen its Expected Goals For per 60 minutes (xGF/60) in 5-on-5 situations slip to 2.13, the third-lowest mark in the league during that time. The Penguins have only generated 9.37 High Danger Chances per 60 minutes in those same 10 games, showing that the offense has been stale as of late.
Tristan Jarry has provided Pittsburgh with a great last line of defense, and he is once again expected to be the starter in net in this one. In 5-on-5 this year Jarry has been excellent, posting a SV % of .933 and 9.7 GSAx.
Flyers vs. Penguins Pick
The battle for Pennsylvania is heavily favored towards the Penguins, and I believe we will see Pittsburgh prove why that is the case.
The offense hasn't come together as of late, but this is a Penguins team that has scored 107 total goals in 5-on-5 situations this season, the seventh-most in the NHL this year. Furthermore, in two matchups against the Flyers this season, the Penguins have posted 3.02 goals for per 60 minutes and are outscoring Philly 9-4.
The Flyers provide the Penguins with a much softer matchup, and given the injuries the Flyers are currently facing I don't anticipate them generating much offense. I expect Pittsburgh to win big on their home ice.
Pick: Pittsburgh Penguins -1.5 (-120)
