The Pittsburgh Penguins (5-2-0) and Florida Panthers (4-4-0) meet in the NHL tonight. Puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m. EDT at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Fla. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN+.
The Panthers are favored by -1.5 on the puck line, with the over/under set at 6 (-110o / -110u). The Panthers are a -205 favorite to win outright, while the Penguins are +165 to pull off the upset.
Let's get into my Penguins vs. Panthers predictions and NHL picks.
Penguins vs. Panthers Odds, Pick
| Penguins Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -150 | 6 -110o / -110u | +165 |
| Panthers Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 +125 | 6 -110o / -110u | -205 |
Penguins vs. Panthers Spread: Panthers -1.5 (+125), Penguins +1.5 (-150)
Penguins vs. Panthers Over/Under: 6 (-110o / -110u)
Penguins vs. Panthers Moneyline: Penguins +165, Panthers -205
Penguins vs. Panthers Preview
It might be tempting to back the red-hot Penguins, who are on a three-game winning streak, going against a Panthers team that had lost four in a row before bouncing back on Tuesday by defeating the Bruins.
Pittsburgh certainly has had a great start to the season, with a 5-2 record and a +7 goal differential. However, the key here is the difference between the home and away Florida performances.
The Panthers' schedule saw them win three at home, then embark on a really disappointing five-game road trip, during which they lost those four games in a row. Not only that, but they lost badly: they were outscored 15-4 in that span.
Due to injuries, Florida is missing Aleksander Barkov, Matthew Tkachuk, Dmitry Kulikov and Tomas Nosek. On top of that, they still expect more from Sam Bennett, Sam Reinhart and Carter Verhaeghe to support the work of Brad Marchand and Anton Lundell, who lead the team with eight and six points, respectively.
That poor offensive output so far is crucial for tonight's game. While the Panthers have averaged only 2.38 goals per game, their defense has been tough (2.88), particularly at home, where they have allowed 1.67 goals per game.
The Penguins have the fifth-best defense this season, with 2.29 goals allowed per game, while producing 3.29 on offense.
Expect the Panthers to do much better at home tonight and keep this a low-scoring game as our Bet Labs system recommends.
Penguins vs. Panthers Prediction
The Early High Profile Unders system focuses on NHL games in October that attract heavy betting attention but tend to open the season with conservative, low-scoring play.
Early in the year, teams are still finding rhythm, systems are tight, and goaltenders are fresh, all leading to lower-scoring environments despite public enthusiasm for overs.
These games often feature marquee matchups or national exposure, drawing inflated totals as casual bettors expect excitement and offense.
In reality, early-season hockey is built on structure and defensive discipline, especially when coaches emphasize fundamentals.
When betting volume spikes and the public leans toward the over, value consistently emerges on the under as teams adjust to new rosters, pace, and timing, keeping scoring suppressed.
Best Bet: Under 6 (-110, bet365)
