Pittsburgh Penguins vs Florida Panthers Prediction NHL Picks 1/3/25

The Pittsburgh Penguins and Florida Panthers meet Friday in NHL action at the Amerant Bank Arena. Here’s a Pittsburgh Penguins vs Florida Panthers Prediction. This article will include a Pittsburgh Penguins vs Florida Panthers Pick.

Pittsburgh Penguins Betting Preview

The Pittsburgh Penguins beat the Islanders, lost to the Red Wings, and play the Hurricanes, Blue Jackets, Oilers, and Senators next. The Pittsburgh Penguins are averaging 3.05 goals per game and are scoring 26.1 percent of their power play opportunities. Rickard Rakell leads Pittsburgh with 17 goals, Sidney Crosby has 31 assists, and Erik Karlsson has 94 shots on goal. Defensively, the Pittsburgh Penguins are allowing 3.67 goals per game and are killing 81.7 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Tristan Jarry has allowed 58 goals on 495 shots faced, and Alex Nedelijkovic has given up 51 goals on 460 shots.

Florida Panthers Betting Preview

The Florida Panthers lost to the Hurricanes, beat the Rangers, and they play the Avalanche, Utah Hockey Club, and Bruins next. The Florida Panthers are averaging 3.33 goals per game and are scoring 24.8 percent of their power play opportunities. Sam Reinhart leads Florida with 22 goals, Aleksander Barkov has 23 assists and Carter Verhaeghe has 114 shots on goal. Defensively, the Florida Panthers are allowing 3.13 goals per game and are killing 81.4 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Sergei Bobrovsky has allowed 72 goals on 715 shots faced, and Spencer Knight has given up 38 goals on 337 shots.

Pittsburgh Penguins vs Florida Panthers Injury Report

The Panthers will be without Niko Mikkola, while Jonah Gadjovich is questionable with an upper-body injury.

The Penguins will be without Kris Letang and Owen Pickering.

Why the Pittsburgh Penguins will win

• The Penguins have won each of their last six games following a road loss.
• The Panthers have lost four of their last five games as home favorites on the second leg of a back-to-back.
• The Penguins have covered the puck line in each of their last four games as underdogs following a road loss.
• The Panthers have failed to cover the puck line in 12 of their last 15 games as favorites against Metropolitan Division opponents.
• The Penguins have won the third period in four of their last five road games against Atlantic Division opponents.

Pittsburgh Penguins vs Florida Panthers Prediction

The Florida Panthers are the better team and should be favored as they’re at their best at home. When the Panthers are right, they’re arguably the best team in the league. The problem is the Panthers continue to run hot and cold, and they’re in a funk again. The Panthers have lost 3 of their last 4 games. The Pittsburgh Penguins have found ways to cash here and there as an underdog, and they beat the Panthers in December in overtime as a +150 underdog. Again, the Panthers should be favored and should win, but this line is thick. It’s simply going off what the team should be, and the Panthers aren’t playing great at the moment. I’ll take a shot in the dark with the Penguins.