NHL Playoffs: Flyers-Penguins Odds, Picks, Predictions for Monday, April 20

(AsiaGameHub) –   The Philadelphia Flyers face the Pittsburgh Penguins this evening for Game 2 of their first-round playoff matchup. The puck is scheduled to drop at 7 p.m. at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, with the game broadcast live on ESPN.

DraftKings lists the Penguins as -155 favorites at home, with a total set at 6.5. Currently, 66% of the moneyline handle and 73% of the total tickets are backing Pittsburgh.

Philadelphia holds a 1-0 series lead following their 3-2 victory in Saturday’s series opener.

Best Bet: Flyers vs. Penguins Team Total

Pittsburgh OVER 3.5 Goals (+105)

During Game 1, Philadelphia employed the gritty road style characteristic of head coach Rick Tocchet during his playing days with the Flyers. Can they replicate that performance tonight and push the Penguins into a 0-2 deficit before the series shifts to Philadelphia?

The Penguins ranked third in the NHL for scoring during the regular season, averaging 3.54 goals per contest. We anticipate a strong response tonight from Sidney Crosby and his teammates in Game 2.

In their regular-season meetings, the Penguins finished 2-0-2 against the Flyers. Pittsburgh secured convincing 5-1 and 6-3 wins, while Philadelphia’s victories came via shootouts.

This series appears destined to be a long, physical battle. Back the Penguins to rebound effectively tonight and level the series.

Best Player Props for Pittsburgh Penguins

Sidney Crosby Anytime Goal Scorer (+165)

Historically, Crosby has dominated against Philadelphia. He has recorded more goals (60) versus the Flyers than against any other franchise, by a significant margin. For comparison, he has 44 goals against the Islanders.

After being kept off the scoresheet in the first game, look for “Sid the Kid” (now 38!) to find the back of the net this evening.

Evgeni Malkin OVER 2.5 Shots (+135)

Evgeni Malkin led the Penguins with a goal and an assist in the opener, though he was limited to just one shot on goal. Note that Malkin has only cleared the 2.5-shot mark once in his previous six outings. We are banking on the “due factor” here, as we expect Pittsburgh to fire plenty of pucks on net to even the series tonight.

Best Player Props for Philadelphia Flyers

Dan Vladar UNDER 22.5 Saves (-125)

Dan Vladar made his postseason debut in the series opener, recording 15 saves. While he is likely to face more pressure in Game 2, we do not anticipate him reaching 23 saves. This projection aligns with our primary wager on the Penguins to exceed 3.5 total goals.

Trevor Zegras OVER 1.5 Shots on Goal (-120)

Trevor Zegras achieved career highs in goals (26) and points (67) this season, but his shot volume is what catches our attention tonight. He cleared this mark with two shots in the playoff opener and recorded four shots against Carolina in the final game of the regular season. We are sticking with the player in form.