Pittsburgh Penguins at Florida Panthers odds, picks and predictions

The Pittsburgh Penguins (11-11-3) and Florida Panthers (15-8-2) tussle Friday. Opening puck drop at Amerant Bank Arena is slated for 7 p.m. ET (NHL Network). Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook's lines around the Penguins vs. Panthers odds, and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.

Pittsburgh is on a 3rd leg of a road trip that has witnessed just 2 Penguins goals so far. The Pens lost 2-1 at the Philadelphia Flyers Monday and 3-1 at the Tampa Bay Lightning Wednesday. Pittsburgh has lost 3 in a row (0-1-2) overall and is just 3-5-3 since Nov. 16.

The Panthers of late have had no such scoring issues — 13 goals over their last 3 games — but Florida is just 3-3-1 in its last 7 after going 7-1-0 from Nov. 6-20. The club is 8-4-0 on home ice, but the trend has been the other way over recent weeks. Over their last 4 games in Miami, the Panthers are 1-3-0.

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Penguins at Panthers odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access Paste BN Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 10:31 a.m. ET.

• Moneyline: Penguins +135 (bet $100 to win $135) | Panthers -160 (bet $160 to win $100)
• Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Penguins +1.5 (-175) | Panthers -1.5 (+145)
• Over/Under (O/U): 6.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)

Penguins at Panthers projected goalies

Tristan Jarry (8-9-2, 2.50 GAA, .917 SV%, 3 SO) vs. Sergei Bobrovsky (12-6-1, 2.49 GAA, .910 SV%, 2 SO)

Jarry played Wednesday, allowing 3 goals on 27 Tampa Bay shots. He has been trending the right way of late (.929 SV% last 6 games) and has been a big-time stopper in Decembers past (.927 career SV% in December).

After 5 days off, Bobrovsky was touched up for 4 goals in a 5-4 win over the Dallas Stars Wednesday. Three of those 4 goals came in the final frame after the veteran netminder had stopped 23 of 24 pucks the 1st 2 periods.

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Penguins at Panthers picks and predictions

Prediction

Panthers 4, Penguins 3

Moneyline

Summary analytics point to Pittsburgh's slide and Florida's ascendance being for real. In fact, the Pens' above-average defense (2.60 GAA) is suspect, and a case can be made they are a club that should be further below .500.

Pittsburgh is 1-3-2 over its last 6 road games. The last time it had a 3-game road trip (Nov. 4-9), the Penguins took the finale (in overtime) but were outshot 36-20.

The Panthers have the better special teams; they may be a bit undervalued on offense due to a low conversion rate on high-danger attempts.

BACK THE PANTHERS (-160).

Puck line/Against the spread

Would want at least a +160 in return here, because we can't figure on this one getting out on the loose on the scoreboard. PASS.

Over/Under

Florida has generated 31 or more shots in 5 of its last 6 games. The Pittsburg side offers up some suspect defensive numbers. These clubs have combined for 6 or more goals in 3 of their last 4 meetings.

The Over 6.5 is a lean but only actionable on a partial-unit basis at -105 or better. PASS for now, but consider keeping tabs on this line.

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