Two of the league’s highest volume shooting teams are set to square off at Scotiabank Saddledome on Tuesday, as the Pittsburgh Penguins (+120) head to take on the Calgary Flames (-140). The total is 6.5 (O: -125, U: +105) Pittsburgh (4-1-1) is playing the second of a back-to-back after suffering a high-scoring 6-3 loss against the Oilers yesterday.
The Penguins took advantage of their power play opportunities, scoring once on five shots, while also conceding a power play goal. Rickard Rakell, Sidney Crosby, and Bryan Rust scored one apiece for the Penguins.
Rakell added an assist to share the scoring lead with Jason Zucker, who had two assists. Tristan Jarry saved only 41 of 47 shots against (.872%) in the loss. Calgary (4-1-0) beat the Hurricanes 3-2 (OT) on Saturday.
Tyler Toffoli, Brett Ritchie, and Nazem Kadri scored one apiece for the Flames. Toffoli added an assist to share the scoring lead with Rasmus Andersson, who had two assists. Jacob Markstrom saved 25 of 27 shots in the win (.925%).
HEAD TO HEAD
The Flames won both games between the teams last season, including a 2-1 (SO) victory in their final meeting in November. Milan Lucic scored Calgary’s only goal. Markstrom got the win, saving 21 of 22 shots (.954%).
FACING OFF
Pittsburgh is averaging 4.83 goals per game so far this season, best in the NHL, and they are taking on a Flames team that is allowing 3.20 goals a game (20th). Meanwhile, Calgary has found the net 3.60 times a game on average, 10th in the league, and the Penguins are allowing opponents to score 2.83 goals per game (9th).Both teams average more shots a game than most teams in the league.
Pittsburgh ranks No. 2 with 38.8 attempts, while Calgary’s 36.8 average ranks third. When it comes to stopping shots, the Penguins have been more successful with a team save percentage of .92% (7th), while the Flames have stopped .89% of shots as a team (24th).
The Flames’ 30.00% power play percentage is the fifth-best in the league, while the Penguins rank 10th with a conversion rate of 25.00%. In terms of penalty killing, Calgary has the league’s eighth-ranked PK% at 85.71%, while Pittsburgh is 27th at 72.73%.
TOP PERFORMERS:
With 11 points this season, third-most in the NHL, Crosby is the top skater for the Penguins. He is among the league leaders in both goals and assists, finding the net four times (10th) and assisting seven scores for this teammates (5th).
In the net, Jarry (4-1-0) is Pittsburgh’s top goaltender by goals against average. He has a 2.82 GAA and a .923% save percentage. Kadri and Andersson lead the Flames in scoring with six points apiece. Kadri has two goals and four assists, while Andersson has one goal and five assists. Markstrom (3-0-0) has the best goals against average for Calgary at 2.93. He has a save percentage of .882%.
HOME AND AWAY
Pittsburgh is 1-1-1 on the road this season. Calgary is 3-1-0 at Scotiabank Saddledome this season.
SportsTips’ NHL Pick:
Calgary Flames (-145)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
