Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Philadelphia Flyers Game 6 Prediction, NHL Odds
The Pittsburgh Penguins will look to stave off elimination for the third straight time as they travel to the City of Brotherly Love to face the Philadelphia Flyers in Game 6 on Wednesday night.
This series looked like a dud after the Flyers went up 3-0 on their Pennsylvania rivals, but the Pens have battled back with two straight victories, including a 3-2 decision in Game 5 on Monday.
Can Pittsburgh force a deciding Game 7, or will Philly close things out at home?
The Flyers are razor-thin -118 favourites to win Game 6 on the NHL odds, with the total set at 5.5.
Penguins vs. Flyers NHL Betting Odds
We’ve harped on the stats over the last couple games: only four teams have ever come back to win a best-of-seven series when trailing 3-0 and no one has done it since the 2014 L.A. Kings.
However, the Penguins have already made minor history. They’re just the sixth team since 2016 to force a Game 6 after going behind 3-0 in the playoffs.
Up 3-2 in the series, it’s no surprise Philadelphia remains a -300 favourite to reach the second round on the NHL futures board. That’s a quite of a drop from the -2000 price the Flyers were at when they led 3-0.
If you believe Pittsburgh’s aging core has one more playoff run left, then their +240 price to complete the comeback is fairly attractive. But, if you’re onboard with the Pens, you’ll be kicking yourself for not taking them at +1000 ahead of Game 4.
If this series does end up going the distance, oddsmakers are banking on a total choke job from Philly. That’s reflected in the fact that Pens winning in seven games (+240) is shorter than Flyers in seven (+320).
Pittsburgh Penguins
Elmer Soderblom, Connor Dewar and Kris Letang scored for Pittsburgh in Game 5, while Sidney Crosby recorded two helpers. It was Letang’s second straight game-winning goal and the 25th playoff goal in his career, most among active defencemen. Arturs Silovs made 18 saves and has now posted a stellar .920 save percentage in two games since taking over for Stuart Skinner.
Penguins fans collected held their breath on Monday when Crosby took a heavy shot from the point off his left knee. The longtime Pittsburgh captain limped to the bench and then to the training room but returned a couple minutes later to set up Letang’s winner. Crosby said he felt good after the game and the injury isn’t believed to be serious enough to hold him out of Game 6.
Philadelphia Flyers
Alex Bump and Travis Sanheim levelled Monday’s contest at two goals apiece in the second period, but it was as far as the Flyers managed to get. Bump scored in his playoff debut, while it was Sanheim’s second of the series. Rasmus Ristolainen assisted on both goals and Dan Vladar turned aside 18 of 21 shots faced.
As comfortable as Philadelphia was after taking a 3-0 series lead, you have to think nervous thoughts are starting to fill this young team’s head against a veteran Pittsburgh side. The Flyers are the third-youngest team in the playoffs and their core players either have no playoff experience entering this year or very limited experience. The pressure has to be mounting against a Penguins group with three players (Crosby, Letang, Evgeni Malkin) who have won three Stanley Cups together.
