Penguins vs Panthers Odds, Picks, and Predictions Tonight: Pittsburgh Keeps Rolling

Sidney Crosby and the Penguins are firing on all cylinders after winning six straight games, having not lost in December. Will the uneven Panthers find some consistency on special teams and end the streak tonight? Find out in our betting picks.

Jonny Lazarus - Contributor at Covers.com
Jonny Lazarus • Contributor
Dec 15, 2022 • 08:37 ET • 4 min read
Sidney Crosby Pittsburgh Penguins NHL
Photo By - USA TODAY Sports

The Pittsburgh Penguins are absolutely buzzing, riding a six-game winning streak as goaltender Tristan Jarry is playing outstanding in this stretch. 

The Florida Panthers have been super inconsistent this season and a lot of that has to do with their weak special teams. 

Pittsburgh is coming in hot and I love them as a road dog in this battle in my NHL picks and predictions for Thursday, December 15. 

Penguins vs Panthers best odds

Penguins vs Panthers picks and predictions

The Penguins and Panthers have been trending in opposite directions lately despite Florida winning its most recent game 4-0. Overall, the Panthers haven’t looked all that good. 

Special teams are a massive concern for the Panthers, as they have only scored one power-play goal in their last five games, going one for seventeen in that span. The Penguins PP has been the total opposite. They have scored a goal on the man advantage in six straight, scoring eight times on 24 attempts. 

If the Panthers don’t play a disciplined game, things could go south very quickly. Sidney Crosby has turned back the clock this season as the 35-year-old looks like he is still in his prime. He is currently eighth in the league in points, tallying 17 goals and 21 assists, but he happens to be leading the league in even-strength points with 31. Jake Guentzel and Evgeni Malkin aren’t looking too shabby themselves, both of them have added 29 points of their own. 

Both have been pretty dangerous offensively, especially when it comes to creating scoring chances. It is safe to say that they will go back and forth for most of this game, with each team getting their respective amount of high-danger chances. 

To me, the Penguins have the edge in nearly every category. They are the better team both offensively and defensively and their special teams have been significantly superior of late. I like how Pittsburgh has been playing and I think the Pens keep it rolling tonight in Florida.

My best bet: Penguins moneyline (+106 at Pinnacle)

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Penguins vs Panthers moneyline analysis

Tristan Jarry is expected to get the nod in goal for the Penguins and he is putting together another strong season. He enters this game boasting a record of 13-3-3 with a .920 save percentage and a 2.67 goals-against average. What’s most impressive is that he is 7-0-1 in his last eight starts. 

The Panthers have gone back and forth with their goaltending, allowing Sergei Bobrovsky and Spencer Knight to split time in the blue paint until they decide who the clear-cut, number-one goalie is. Bobrovsky started the Cats' most recent game and posted a 22-save shutout against the Blue Jackets. 

One of the most impressive aspects of the Penguins' six-game win streak is how strong they've been defensively. During this span, they have only allowed 11 goals while tallying 23 of their own. Florida’s lack of producing offensive at a consistent rate is going to play a major factor in this game, so it’s tough to go against the Pens right now.

Penguins vs Panthers Over/Under analysis

If recent history tells us anything about these two teams, it is saying that the Under is most certainly a trend when the Penguins and Panthers clash. The Under has hit in seven of the last nine meetings between these teams and with the way Jarry is playing right now, I don’t see that trend breaking in this game. 

The Panthers certainly have the talent in their room to turn things around and find some more consistency, but right now, for whatever reason, it just doesn’t seem to be there. The power play struggle is a real concern and makes you wonder how their struggle on the man advantage will affect their confidence at even strength. 

I think 6.5 is a little too high for this game.

Penguins vs Panthers betting trend to know

The Penguins have won six straight games. Find more NHL betting trends for Penguins vs Panthers.

Penguins vs Panthers game info

Location: FLA Live Arena, Sunrise, FL
Date: Thursday, December 15, 2022
Puck drop: 7:00 p.m. ET
TV: Bally Sports Florida, SportsNet Pittsburgh

Penguins vs Panthers key injuries

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Jonny Lazarus - Covers
Contributor

Jonny Lazarus has loved hockey for as long as he can remember. After his Division I playing career at UMass-Amherst and Mercyhurst University came to an end in 2020, he transitioned from being a player to working in the media. He might be young in his career, but he has made appearances in numerous places like the NHL, Bleacher Report, as well as The Action Network, and this season he will be doing color commentary for a selection of UMass-Amherst hockey games.

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