Calgary Flames vs. Pittsburgh Penguins Prediction, NHL Odds
The Flames are coming off a 5-3 victory in New Jersey on Tuesday, and will be hitting the ice for the third time in four nights in Thursday’s matchup at PPG Paints Arena. The Penguins continued to feel the impact of a recent rash of injuries in Tuesday’s 5-1 loss to Tampa Bay.
Despite remaining severely shorthanded, the Penguins look to Thursday’s matchup as -121 home favourites to win on the NHL odds, while the total is pegged at 5.5.
Flames vs. Penguins NHL Betting Odds
The Penguins’ inconsistent play has failed to dampen their odds ahead of Thursday’s matchup. Pittsburgh has held steady as -121 betting chalk despite seeing the Flames attract 80 per cent of bets. The OVER has also been popular among sports bettors getting in on Thursday’s gameday action, attracting 92 per cent of bets. However, the total has settled back to 5.5 after briefly climbing to 6.0.
Thursday’s contest marks the first meeting between these two clubs since December 2019. The Penguins have held the upper hand in recent matchups, claiming victory in four of the past five overall. The Flames have managed to claim victory in three of their past five trips to Pittsburgh. However, scoring has come at a premium for Calgary, with Flames shooters scoring two or fewer goals in four of their past six dates with the Penguins. That has contributed to the current 2-0 run for the UNDER. Home favourites have also struggled when these two teams meet, losing outright in three of their past four matchups.
Calgary Flames
The Flames will be aiming to win five in a row for the first time since January 2020. Currently one of the hottest teams in the NHL, the Flames have outscored opponents by a wide 17-7 margin while going undefeated through the first four games of their current five-game win streak. That marks an impressive turnaround for a Calgary squad that averaged just 2.29 goals per game while winning a mere 11 road games last season. The Flames have powered their current tear with fast starts, establishing early multi-goal leads in each of their four recent wins. However, with the club set to play their fifth road games in eight nights, fatigue could emerge as a factor.
Pittsburgh Penguins
Injuries remain a massive concern in Pittsburgh, where Evgeni Malkin, Jeff Carter, Kris Letang, and Bryan Rust remain sidelined indefinitely. The club received a boost this week from Sidney Crosby’s return to practice. However, Sid the Kid remains unlikely to suit up for Thursday’s contest. That leaves the Penguins facing the question as to who is going to power the offence. While Pittsburgh feasted on the disinterested Toronto Maple Leafs in a lopsided 7-1 win last weekend, they have otherwise struggled to find the back of the net, potting just a single goal in two of their past three contests.
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