Pittsburgh Penguins at Philadelphia Flyers odds, picks and prediction
The Pittsburgh Penguins visit the rival Philadelphia Flyers in the first game of the 2021 NHL season Wednesday. Puck drop will be at 5:30 p.m. ET at Wells Fargo Center. Below, we analyze the Penguins-Flyers NHL betting odds and lines, with picks and predictions.
Penguins at Flyers: Betting odds, spread and lines
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports' betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 2:17 p.m. ET.
- Money line : Penguins +100 (bet $100 to win $100) | Flyers -115 (bet $115 to win $100)
- Against the spread/ATS : Penguins +1.5 (-275) | Flyers -1.5 (+225)
- Over/Under : 6 (O: -105 | U: -115)
Penguins at Flyers: Projected starting goalies
Tristan Jarry (20-12-1, .921 SV%, 2.43 GAA) vs. Carter Hart (24-13-3, .914 SV%, 2.42 GAA)
Jarry takes over as the official No. 1 goaltender in Pittsburgh following the departure of Matt Murray this offseason. He'll be backed up on a part-time basis by Casey DeSmith.
Hart and backup Brian Elliott both return for the Flyers. The 22-year-old Hart projects to make the lion's share of starts.
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Penguins at Flyers: Odds, betting lines, predictions and picks
Prediction
Flyers 4, Penguins 1
Money line (ML)
The Penguins won their abbreviated 2019-20 season series against the rival Flyers 2-1, with wins coming by scores of 7-1 and 4-3 (in overtime), and the Flyers winning 3-0.
Hart appeared in only the 7-1 Philadelphia loss and allowed one goal on nine shots in relief of Elliott. He'll be the difference Wednesday and all season as the Flyers look to make the jump to Stanley Cup contention.
The Flyers are +350 to win the 2021 East Division with the Penguins +450 at BetMGM. Philly also shares the fourth-best odds to win the 2021 Stanley Cup at +1400. Pittsburgh shares the eighth-best odds at +2200.
Take PHILADELPHIA (-115).
Against the spread (ATS)
Jarry made a major jump while playing in a career-high 33 games in 2019-20. The second-round pick of the 2013 NHL Entry Draft dethroned Murray to earn a 3-year, $10.5-million contract this offseason.
Still, we'll need to see it again from the 25-year-old, and he'll be met with a tough test in the season-opener. The Flyers have a stacked and well-balanced top three lines and the defense is suddenly a strength in Philly.
Back the FLYERS -1.5 (+225) to win by at least 2 goals.
Over/Under (O/U)
Lean to the UNDER 6 (-115). Two of the three head-to-head meetings last season topped this projection with the only Under result coming in the 3-0 win for the Flyers. Elliott stopped all 19 shots he faced.
The shortened training camps and lack of preseason will result in some sloppy passing around the league in the early going. The added familiarity of these two rivals and the pressures of the shortened schedule all combine for a low-scoring affair.
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