The Pittsburgh Penguins currently have the top spot in the Metropolitan Division. Across the state, the Philadelphia Flyers are fighting for their playoff lives.
Despite the current differences in postseason positioning, the two teams have one thing in common. They have both done well for many sports bettors in PA, especially for those betting the hometown teams when they are underdogs.
Penguins and Flyers betting stats at DraftKings
According to data from DraftKings Sportsbook:
The Pittsburgh Penguins:
- Covered the puck line 46.6% of the time this season.
- Covered the puck line 40% of the time as favorites and 61% of the time as underdogs.
- Over/under record is 27-29-2.
The Philadelphia Flyers:
- Covered the puck line 58.3% time this season.
- Covered the puck line 44% of the time as favorites and 68% of the time as underdogs.
- Over/under record is 32-27-1.
Additionally, the Penguins and Flyers are among the top teams in wagers to win the Stanley Cup.
Pittsburgh Penguins plagued by injury
The Penguins have dealt with a barrage of injuries this season. Sidney Crosby missed 28 games, his longest absence since the 2011-2012 season, due to abdominal surgery. Since returning on Jan. 14, Crosby has posted 23 points.
Brandon Rust leads the team with 23 goals. Evegeni Malkin is tops in points for the Penguins (58) and is currently day-to-day with an illness. Tristan Jarry ranks second among all goalies with a stellar 2.13 goals-against-average.
Philadelphia Flyers prefer home ice
Call the Flyers introverts. They are 19-9 on home ice largely due to the performance of Carter Hart (15-2 .943 GAA at home). Away from the Wells Fargo Center, the Flyers are 9-18 and Hart struggles (3-10 .855 GAA).
It’s been a rebound season for Ivan Provorov who logs the eighth-most minutes for defenseman in the league. Sean Couturier (team-high 53 points) has provided an immediate spark to any player inserted on his line. Travis Konecny leads the team with 20 goals.
The Flyers will be looking for some offensive firepower at the Feb. 24 trade deadline. However, there is a chance they will not want to part with any of their prospects. Perhaps a more important addition than a trade would be the possible return of Nolan Patrick who has not yet played this season due to a migraine disorder.
Pittsburgh Penguins upcoming schedule
- Thursday, Feb. 20 @ 7 p.m. at Maple Leafs
- Saturday, Feb. 22 @ 1 p.m. vs. Sabres
- Sunday, Feb. 23 @ 12 p.m. at Capitals
Philadelphia Flyers upcoming schedule
- Thursday, Feb. 20 @ 7 p.m. at Blue Jackets
- Saturday, Feb. 22 @ 1 p.m. vs. Jets
- Tuesday, Feb. 25 @ 7 p.m. vs. Sharks
How to bet on hockey
NHL moneyline: Moneyline betting in hockey has a favorite, indicated with a minus sign (Penguins -150) and an underdog marked with a plus sign (Flyers +110). The amount translates to what you must wager to win $100.
Puck line: Puck line and moneyline are not the same thing. Here’s a simple way to remember what what a puck line is. It’s a point spread for hockey. “P” is for pucks and “p” is for point spread. The puck line is usually set at 1.5. In an average hockey game, final scores usually are decided by a goal or two. Ultimately, bettors wager if a team can win by two goals or more.
NHL over/under: Similar to other sports, an over/under bet in hockey is based on the total number of goals between two teams.
For more types of NHL bets and tips visit How to Bet the NHL.
