Penguins at Panthers: Lines, Goalies, Betting Odds, How to Watch

If there is a redeeming value from a tough loss by the Panthers on Thursday, it is they are right back at it tonight against the visiting Pittsburgh Penguins.

There is no time to dwell on the 3-1 loss to Carolina.

The Penguins are also coming off a tough loss, losing in Detroit on New Year’s Eve.

They continue to be on the outside looking in at a wild card spot.

After a vigorous New Year’s Day practice, they were rewarded with a day off on Thursday in Fort Lauderdale.

Today is all business.

This is not the same Pittsburgh team that produced back-to-back Stanley Cups just a few seasons back.

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The Penguins missed the playoffs the past two seasons in excruciatingly tight finishes and have not been out of the first round since 2018.

Pittsburgh is in a re-tooling mode right now rather than a rebuild. According to eliteprospects.com, the Penguins are the second oldest team in the NHL, at 29-plus.

Personnel changes have occurred in recent years, but the core of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang remain. Letang will miss his third straight game with an injury.

All three still put up big numbers but are off their prime. 

According to Dan Kingerski, writing in PittsburghHockeyNow.com, veteran Rickard Rakell — whom the Penguins acquired from Anaheim in a deadline deal three seasons back — is playing some of the best hockey of his career.

Bryan Rust remains a steady force at 32.

On Dec. 29, Crosby recorded his  1,034th career assist, passing Mario Lemieux as the all-time franchise leader.

Pittsburgh still has a potent offense, averaging more than three goals per game. Their power play, at 26.1 percent, ranks fourth in the NHL.

The offense lost Jake Guenzel, who was second behind Crosby in points when he was traded to Carolina at the deadline last year.

The team has suffered on defense this season, ranking dead last in the NHL in goals against per game.

Both goaltenders, Tristan Jarry and Alex Nedeljkovic, have save percentages well south of .900 and goals-against averages north of 3.

These are not numbers that spell success. However, the stats since Thanksgiving have improved significantly.   

The Penguins started the year slowly, but from November 27 on, they are 10-5-1, a pace that would easily get them in the playoffs if they can maintain it.

NOTES: PENGUINS @ PANTHERS

• Starting Goalies: Florida will likely go with Spencer Knight tonight. The Penguins are expected to start Tristan Jarry.
• How to Watch: Today’s game is on local television and will be streamed on Panthers+. Since it is also on NHL Network nationally, it will not be streamed on ESPN+.
• NHL Betting Odds: The Panthers are favorites at the local book. Florida is -220 on the money line against the Penguins. So, to cash on the Panthers to win, a $220 bet pays $100.

ON DECK: GAME No. 40

PITTSBURGH PENGUINS AT FLORIDA PANTHERS

• When: Friday, 7 p.m.
• Where: Amerant Bank Arena, Sunrise 
• Local TV: Scripps Sports — WSFL 39 (Miami/FTL); WHDT 9 (WPB); LAFF 36.3 (Naples/FTM)
• National TV: NHL Network
• Streaming: Panthers+
• Radio: WPOW 96.5-FM2; WBZT 1230-AM (Palm Beach); WCTH 100.3-FM (Florida Keys); SiriusXM
• Panthers Radio Streaming: SiriusXM 932, NHL App
• Betting Odds — Panthers Favored: Money Line (-220); Puck line (-1.5, +115); Over/Under 6 (+100/-120)
• Season Series (Penguins Lead 1-0) — At Florida: Friday; March 23. At Pittsburgh: Penguins 5, Panthers 4 OT (Dec. 3).
• Last Season: Panthers won 3-0
• All-time Regular Season Series: Penguins lead 57-38-8, 4 ties
• All-time Playoff Series: Florida d. Pittsburgh 4-3, 1996 Eastern Conference finals
• Up Next for the Panthers: Monday at Colorado Avalanche, 9 p.m.

PROJECTED FLORIDA PANTHERS (23-14-2) LINES

17 Evan Rodrigues // 16 Sasha Barkov // 13 Sam Reinhart

27 Eetu Luostarinen // 9 Sam Bennett // 19 Matthew Tkachuk

23 Carter Verhaeghe // 15 Anton Lundell // 70 Jesper Boqvist

10 AJ Greer // 94 Tomas Nosek // 25 Mackie Samoskevich

42 Gus Forsling // 5 Aaron Ekblad

7 Dmitry Kulikov // 34 Adam Boqvist

88 Nate Schmidt // 26 Uvis Balinskis

72 Sergei Bobrovsky

30 Spencer Knight

Scratched: None

Injured: Niko Mikkola (upper body), Jonah Gadjovich (upper body)

PROJECTED PITTSBURGH PENGUINS (17-17-5) LINES

67 Rickard Rakell // 87 Sidney Crosby // 17 Bryan Rust

8 Michael Bunting // 71 Evgeni Malkin // 19 Cody Glass

10 Drew O’Connor // 13 Kevin Hayes // 53 Philip Tomasino

83 Matt Nieto // 46 Blake Lizotte // 55 Noel Acciari

73 P.O Joseph // 28 Marcus Pettersson

24 Matt Grzelcyk // 65 Erik Karlsson

27 Ryan Graves // 38 Owen Pickering

35 Tristan Jarry

39 Alex Nedeljkovic

Scratched: Anthony Beauvillier, Ryan Shea, Jesse Puljujarvi

Injured: Kris Letang (upper body)