The battle of the birds is going to be a good one for Thursday Night Hockey. We have the Anaheim Ducks and the Pittsburgh Penguins both trying to stay afloat in the standings.
What does that mean for you? It means you have a good chance to win some big bucks on this game and we’ve got an expert prediction for you.
Date: Thursday, October 31, 2024
Time: 7:00 PM ET
Location: PPG Paints Arena
Odds: Pittsburgh Penguins -189 / Anaheim Ducks +150
Total: Over/Under 6.5
The Anaheim Ducks (4-4-1) are riding high after a big 3-1 road win over the Islanders. They’re looking to build on this momentum as they face the struggling Pittsburgh Penguins (3-7-1) at PPG Arena in Pittsburgh.
On the other side, the Penguins have dropped their last 6 games. Most recent of these losses include a 5-3 loss to the Wild at home. This has raised a few concerns about their current form and if they have what it takes to be a playoff contender.
Despite Pittsburgh’s recent slump, the bookmakers still have them as the favorites for this matchup with odds set at -189. Anaheim offers a decent underdog value at +150, given their recent competitiveness. That’s where we think you could cash in.
As with any bet, we think it’s really important to take a look at a few trends to see where each team is and where they’re possibly going.
The Ducks have covered the puck line in 7 consecutive games when visiting Pittsburgh. This underscores their ability to stay competitive in this matchup.
Penguins have failed to cover the puck line in 7 of their last 8 home games at night, highlighting their struggles at home under the lights.
These trends might not mean much, but they’re definitely a consideration when loading up your bet slip.
The Ducks’ recent victory against the Islanders was driven by dominant performances from their young stars, including Troy Terry and Leo Carlsson.
Terry has been really effective this season with 8 points in his last 10 games, while Carlsson has contributed 6 points in the same span.
On top of that, Lukas Dostal has been reliable between the pipes. He’s sporting a 2.00 GAA and a solid .943 save percentage. His form has provided a bit of stability in Anaheim’s defense, crucial in an away game where they’ll need to lean on strong goaltending.
Anaheim’s offense hasn’t necessarily been explosive, averaging only 2.5 goals per game over their last 10 outings, but their defense and Dostal’s heroics have kept them competitive.
We think if they continue to get quality starts from Dostal and capitalize on Pittsburgh’s defensive vulnerabilities, they can pull off the upset here.
The Penguins, led by Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby, have struggled to find consistency so far this season.
Malkin has been somewhat productive, tallying 14 points with 11 assists, while Crosby has added 10 points, largely through assists.
However, Pittsburgh’s offensive output hasn't exactly translated to wins. This is largely due to defensive lapses and inconsistent goaltending.
Joel Blomqvist, who has a 3.46 GAA and a .909 save percentage, will need to improve quite a bit to keep Pittsburgh in this game.
Their defense has been relatively porous, allowing 4.1 goals per game, with limited PK efficiency at just 85.7%. Given their defensive struggles and the shaky form of Blomqvist, the Penguins face an uphill battle, especially if Anaheim’s forwards take advantage of any miscues.
The goal line for this game is set at 6.5, and the over has some strong potential.
The penguins’ last 5 games have frequently gone over the line, with defensive issues plaguing Pittsburgh and Anaheim’s Dostal being put to the test often.
Given both teams’ tendencies in recent games, the combination of a vulnerable Penguins defense and Anaheim’s steady, if unspectacular, scoring rate makes the over a valuable pick.
BettorInsiders Best Bet: Over 6.5 Goals (-115)
Both teams have recent trends favoring high-scoring games, and with Pittsburgh’s defensive woes, we’re pretty confident in this pick.