With both teams looking to end their 0-2 winless streak, there is a lot on the line tonight. The Penguins do sit comfortably in 2nd place in the Metropolitan Division, whilst the Golden Knights have gone through a bad run of form only winning only 4 of their last 10 and now under pressure to keep their playoff spot in the Pacific Division. Here is all you need to know for your NHL picks.
Friday, March 11, 2022 – 07:00 PM EST at PPG Paints Arena
Vegas’s form has plummeted, they now hold just a 1 point lead over the Edmonton Oilers and find themselves a game ahead of the Oilers. They are also separated by just four points to the Vancouver Canucks, who also have played one game less than the team from sin city.
Having won just 4 of their previous 12, it's concerning that all four of those teams were based outside of the playoff zones. With two wins over San Jose, 1 win over the Ottawa Senators and 1 win over the Anaheim Ducks hardly anything to write home about.
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Whilst Robin Lehner is injured and Laurent Brossoit suited up on Thursday night in the 3-1 loss to the Sabres, it's likely we see Logan Thompson get the start in the crease here.
The exact strength of the Penguins was obvious in their previous two NHL defeats, narrowly losing by one goal to both the Carolina Hurricanes and the Florida Panthers. Essentially, the Penguins are a strong team who could go deep in the playoffs, but ultimately against the likes of Carolina or Florida, they will most likely falter.
The Penguins come into this with almost their entire team fit to play, compared to the Golden Knights who are without six players and potentially the questionable Reilly Smith.
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Pittsburgh has had a few days of rest, whilst the travelling Golden Knights are on a back-to-back. With the ever-present Tristan Jarry set to start in the crease tonight, it could be a long way back to Vegas for the Golden Knights.
It’s essentially a battle for second place in the Metropolitan Division between the Penguins and the NY Rangers, other than that both teams are pretty much guaranteed to make the playoff this season.
*Trends should never be your main source of information when it comes to making your betting picks, they are merely guidelines and mostly irrelevant information but nonetheless can be interesting to read.
Vegas Golden Knights
Pittsburgh Penguins
Moneyline: Vegas head into tonight’s game priced at +125 as road underdogs in this NHL matchup, meanwhile the Penguins are -145.
Total: Tonight’s total has been set at 6.0 with the over being juiced to -120 and the under coming in best priced at +100 with Everygame (visit our Everygame Review)
Puck Line: The Penguins to cover the -1.5 PK line is currently +160 at the NHL odds, whilst the Penguins to cover the +1.5 PK line is as low as -200.
Pittsburgh has the 7th best defence and the 8th best offence in the league thus far this season, compared to the Golden Knights' 12th offence and 19th defence. The Knights beat Pittsburgh 3-0 last time they were on the road.
It’s hard to oppose the Penguins right now, although they have lost their previous 2 games, they were narrow defeats and they have had a few days to recoup, whilst the Golden Knights are depleted with their roster, on a back-to-back and in general, is going through a bad stretch of from.
Although there does seem to be a small bit of value laying -145 on the Penguins, we like the PK line much better at +160, it's obviously very possible the Golden Knights cover the spread here but we are happy to take out chances on Pittsburgh winning this by two or more.
NHL Pick: Pittsburgh Penguins -1.5 (+160) at BetOnline (visit our BetOnline Review)
*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.