- What: Florida Panthers vs Pittsburgh Penguins
- When: Wednesday, February 14th, 7:30 PM ET
- Where: PPG Paints Arena
Wednesday evening brings an intriguing Eastern Conference clash between the high-flying Florida Panthers and the struggling Pittsburgh Penguins. The puck is scheduled to drop at 7:30 PM ET at PPG Paints Arena. Florida is one of the top teams in the league and has won two in a row, most recently beating the Colorado Avalanche 4-0 over the weekend. As for Pittsburgh, they've lost back-to-back contests and definitely need to respond here. Continue reading for the Panthers vs Penguins picks.
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Panthers vs Penguins Odds
| Team |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida Panthers | -123 | -125 | -125 |
| Pittsburgh Penguins | +109 | +110 | +105 |
The Panthers head into this road matchup as a clear -125 favorite for an implied win probability of 55.56%. The Pens return at +105 and have a 48.78% chance of taking this one on home ice. The total in goals is set at six. Recent meetings have gone the way of Florida, winning three in a row against Pittsburgh. In the process, they've outscored the Penguins 10-4.
Another Cup Run For Florida?
The Panthers made a Cinderella run to the Stanley Cup last season; by the looks of it, that could happen again. But, this time, it wouldn't exactly be a surprise. Florida is one of the top squads in the East and only three points off the Boston Bruins for first place in the Atlantic Division. Remember, that's the same team that the Panthers shocked in the first round of last year's playoffs. Florida owns a 33-15-4 record and has an extremely well-rounded team.
Paul Maurice's group is 13th in goals scored, first in shots on goal, and second in fewest goals allowed. They're top-10 in numerous major categories on both ends of the ice. It's understandable why the Panthers are thriving. Sam Reinhart is truly having a phenomenal campaign to lead the way for Florida, scoring 39 goals and tallying 25 assists. Matthew Tkachuk, Carter Verhaeghe, and Aleksander Barkov have all surpassed the 50-point mark, too. This core is very talented and continues to produce on a nightly basis.
The Panthers come into Wednesday with a 6-2-2 record in their last 10 games and just blanked a very solid Avalanche team on Saturday. Their stout blue line came up clutch, stopping Nathan MacKinnon and Co. The big boys got in on the action here, with Verhaeghe, Reinhart, and Barkov all finding the back of the net. Eetu Luostarinen also scored in this one. Florida outshot Colorado 41-34 and was the more physical team with 38 hits compared to just 23 for the Avs. The Panthers will be feeling confident that a third straight win could be in the cards on Wednesday.
Tough Year For Pens
Yes, the Metropolitan Division is full of quality teams, but the reality is Pittsburgh isn't living up to expectations. The Pens are seventh right now with a 23-19-7 record and a long way off any playoff berth. Mike Sullivan's squad is actually fantastic defensively but in front of goal, the struggles are real. Pittsburgh is scoring only 2.9 goals per night, which ranks 24th in the league. They've notched the fifth-most shots on target yet can't finish their opportunities. That essentially puts their woes into perspective.
Sidney Crosby is enjoying another quality season at 36 years old, leading the Pens with 28 goals and 24 assists for a total of 52 points. Jake Guentzel also has 51 points, while veteran Evgeni Malkin has collected 41 points. Erik Karlsson and Kris Letang are two others who are over the 30-point threshold as well. There are enough guys who can get it done offensively, they just need more consistency.
While the Penguins have lost two consecutive, both were by just one goal. They went two down to the Jets on Saturday in the first period and got one back in the second period through Bryan Rust, but that was it. Pittsburgh does tend to play relatively well at PPG Paints Arena, compiling a 13-8-3 record in 2023-24. That's a positive sign as they aim to end this skid and finally beat the Panthers.
Panthers vs Penguins Picks
It's hard to bet against the Panthers when they're firing on all cylinders. Plus, Florida has a better record on the road compared to at home. Take the moneyline with confidence here.
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