Free NHL Picks Today: Pittsburgh Penguins vs Philadelphia Flyers 4/2/23

Free NHL Picks Today: Pittsburgh Penguins vs Philadelphia Flyers 4/2/23
Sun 2nd April 2023

The Pittsburgh Penguins (-220) play host to the Philadelphia Flyers (+180) at PPG Paints Arena on Sunday. The total is 6.5 (O: -110, U: -110)Both teams will be playing the second of a back-to-back. The Flyers are 2-11 without rest, while the Penguins are 4-10.

Philadelphia (29-33-13) is kicking off a four-game road trip coming off a high-scoring 6-3 loss against the Sabres yesterday. The Flyers committed four penalties in the game, though they held Buffalo without a power play goal.

Morgan Frost led the Flyers with two goals. Felix Sandstrom only had 23 saves on 29 shots against (.793%) in the loss.Pittsburgh (37-29-10) fell 4-3 to the Bruins yesterday. Bryan Rust was the leading goal scorer for the Penguins, netting twice. Tristan Jarry saved only 31 of 35 shots against (.885%) in the loss.

HEAD TO HEAD

The Penguins have won both games between the teams this season, including a 5-1 victory in their most recent meeting in March. Jake Guentzel (1G 1A), Mikael Granlund (1G 1A), and Marcus Pettersson (0G 2A) each had two points to lead Pittsburgh. Kieffer Bellows scored Philadelphia’s only goal. Casey DeSmith got the win, saving 31 of 32 shots (.968%).

FACING OFF

Philadelphia is averaging 2.71 goals per game for the season, 29th in the NHL, and they are taking on a Penguins team that is allowing 3.24 goals a game (18th). Meanwhile, Pittsburgh has found the net 3.20 times a game on average, 17th in the league, and the Flyers are allowing opponents to score 3.31 goals per game (22nd).

Pittsburgh averages more shots per game (34.6) than most teams in the league, ranking fourth, though the team’s 9.3% shooting percentage is 28th. With an average of 29.2 attempts, Philadelphia ranks 26th.

The Flyers’ 16.10% power play percentage is the third-lowest in the league, while the Penguins rank 15th with a conversion rate of 21.35%. In terms of defending power plays, Pittsburgh has the league’s 18th-ranked PK% at 78.33%, while Philadelphia is 25th at 75.12%.

TOP PERFORMERS:

With 55 and 53 points this season, Travis Konecny and Kevin Hayes have been the top skaters for the Flyers. In the net, Carter Hart (21-21-10) is Philadelphia’s top goaltender. He has a 2.90 GAA and a .909% save percentage.

Sidney Crosby leads the Penguins in scoring with 86 points. He has 31 goals and 55 assists in 76 games. Jarry (22-11-6) has the best goals against average for Pittsburgh at 2.93. He has a save percentage of .909%.

HOME AND AWAY

Philadelphia is seeking to snap a six-game losing skid away from home this season. Pittsburgh is 21-12-5 at PPG Paints Arena this season.

SportsTips’ NHL Pick:

Pittsburgh Penguins (-225)

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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.

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