The Pittsburgh Penguins (12-7-4) host the Calgary Flames (11-12-3) Monday at PPG Paints Arena. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET. We analyze the Flames-Penguins sports betting odds and lines, while providing NHL betting tips and picks around this matchup.
Flames at Penguins: Projected starting goalies
David Rittich vs. Matt Murray
Rittich is coming off a 36-save victory over the Philadelphia Flyers Saturday. He is 10-7-3 through 20 starts with a .911 save percentage and 2.80 goals against average. He has two shutouts and has played a league-high 1,202 minutes.
Murray went 0-1-3 over his last four outings and has given up a total of nine goals over his last two starts. He has a record of 9-4-4 with a .907 SV% and a 2.60 GAA.
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Flames at Penguins: Odds, picks and betting tips
Odds courtesy of BetMGM; access them at USA TODAY Sports for a full set of today’s betting odds. Odds last updated at 8 a.m. ET.
Prediction
Penguins 5, Flames 2
Moneyline (ML)
Penguins C Kris Letang (lower body) is expected to be a game-time decision Monday; C Sidney Crosby (groin) remains sidelined. Flames RW Sam Bennett (upper body) remains out and D T.J. Brodie (undisclosed) will be a GTD.
The PENGUINS (-161) are 8-3-2 on home ice and rank second in the NHL with a plus-18 goal differential. The Flames (+135) are 5-9-1 on the road with a minus-15 goal differential for the season. Both teams are coming off victories; the Penguins beat the New Jersey Devils 4-1 Friday and the Flames dropped the Flyers 3-2 in a shootout Saturday. The Penguins take this one at home.
New to sports betting? A $10 bet on the Penguins to win in regulation, overtime or a shootout returns a profit of $6.20.
Puck Line/Against the Spread (ATS)
The Flames enter Monday at 10-16 against the spread overall and 6-9 ATS on the road. The Pens are 11-12 ATS overall and 5-8 at home. Each of Pittsburgh’s last two wins and four of its last six came by margins of at least two goals. The Flames were shut out in three of their last five, with all three of those losses decided by at least three goals.
Back PITTSBURGH (-1.5, +165) to win by at least a two-goal margin and turn the same $10 wager into a profit of $16.50.
Over/Under (O/U)
The Flames are a woeful 2-8 against the Over/Under across their last 10 games. The Penguins were 5-5 against the projected totals over the same span. Buck the trend and take the OVER 5.5 (-143) with both sides expected to have some key reinforcements return to the lineup.
Esten’s NHL betting record: 74-67
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