The Florida Panthers and the Pittsburgh Penguins clash in a rematch of yesterday’s game. Welcome back to NHL Predictions here with Last Word On Hockey. Each day, we provide in-depth analysis, insights, and predictions for games around the NHL. In tonight’s matchup, Pittsburgh looks to tighten their hold on the second spot in the Metropolitan Division against a Panthers squad that’s been officially eliminated from Stanley Cup Playoff contention for the 2025-26 season.
NHL Predictions featuring the Florida Panthers at the Pittsburgh Penguins
Head-to-Head: Panthers 0-2 Penguins
How to Watch: Sportsnet+, NHL Centre Ice, SN-PIT, SCRIPPS, ESPN+
Time: 3:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)
Penguins Story
Pittsburgh comes into this game off a 9-4 win over the Florida Panthers yesterday. With the win, the Penguins come into this game 5-4-1 over the last 10 games. With an overall record of 39-22-16 on the season, Pittsburgh sits second in the Metropolitan Division, with a healthy lead over the teams behind them. Closing it out in the final five games of the regular season, Pittsburgh is nearly at the point of clinching a spot in this year’s playoffs.
Playing the Florida Panthers at home for a second straight day, expect some of yesterday’s biggest contributors to pick up where they left off in this game. Chief among them is star forward Evgeni Malkin. Malkin scored a hat trick, in addition to an assist. He has 18 goals and 57 points in 53 games this season, with five goals and ten points in seven games since a suspension in early March. Swedish star Erik Karlsson had himself another fantastic game as well. With a goal and three assists yesterday, Karlsson is up to 14 goals and 64 points in 72 games this season. Picking up a pair of assists, captain Sidney Crosby needs just one point to ensure his 22nd straight point-per-game season. He’s up to 28 goals and 69 points in 65 games this season, with a goal and ten points through nine games since returning from injury.
With Arturs Silovs getting the win in yesterday’s game, expect Stuart Skinner to draw back into play in this one. Skinner is 11-8-5 with an .886 save percentage with the Penguins. Although it seems guaranteed that Skinner will start today, it’s always a good idea to double-check official lineups before placing any kind of bet.
Panthers Story
Coming off a 9-4 loss to the Penguins yesterday, expect the Panthers to come back with a little bit more energy in this game. With that being said, Florida is 37-36-3 this season. With their loss yesterday, the reigning back-to-back Stanley Cup champions were officially eliminated from playoff contention for this year’s playoffs. The remaining six games of the season will likely be more of a tryout for some of the players lower down the lineup, as well as a general tuning for the team to end the season.
Credit Image: © Luis Santana/Tampa Bay Times via ZUMA Press Wire
Even through a nine-goal drubbing, the Panthers did get some production from their lineup. Depth forward A.J. Greer recorded a goal and an assist. He has 15 goals and 28 points in 72 games this season. Star forward Matthew Tkachuk recorded an assist as well. He is now up to 13 goals and 32 points in 29 games. Defenceman Seth Jones is taking advantage of the increased opportunity that Aaron Ekblad’s injury gives him. He scored a goal against Pittsburgh, and Toronto is up to seven goals and 30 points in 50 games. Another player to watch out for is young gun Mackie Samoskevich. The young forward had a goal yesterday and is up to 10 goals and 27 points through 71 games this season.
Expect backup Daniil Tarasov to start in this game after Sergei Bobrovsky started yesterday. However, this is subject to change as Bobrovsky was pulled halfway through the second period, meaning Tarasov is coming off the second half of yesterday’s game. Tarasov is 10-14-2 with an .895 save percentage this season.
Prediction
Expect Pittsburgh to pick things up from where they left off yesterday. Against an injury-ridden Panthers team, look for the Penguins to gain another valuable two points and get close to clinching a spot in the playoffs in the process.
Prediction: Penguins win 5-3
Prop Bet of the Night
Expecting yet another high-scoring game, a popular prop bet of goals over seven with odds of +144 is a good one.
Main Photo Credit: Rich Storry-Imagn Images
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