Pittsburgh Penguins vs Calgary Flames Picks and Predictions November 30th 2024

Pittsburgh Penguins vs Calgary Flames November 30th 2024

Making on a bet on this NHL game featuring the Flames versus the Penguins? The puck drops at 7:00 ET, and you can watch it all unfold on NHLN. The game will be played at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA. The over/under for this game is set at 6.5 goals, and the Penguins are favored by -1.5 vs. the Flames in a non-conference matchup.

Calgary vs. Pittsburgh Key Information

• Teams: Flames at Penguins
• Where: PPG Paints Arena Pittsburgh
• Date: Saturday, November 30th
• Betting Odds PIT -122 | CGY +103 O/U 6.5

The Flames Can Win If…

Calgary’s 4-2 loss to the Oilers dropped the Flames to 12-8-4 this season. The Flames trailed early, allowing a goal just 20 seconds into the game.

The total was set at 6.5 goals, but the combined score of 6 fell short of that mark. Calgary, as the underdog on the puck line, failed to cover.

Calgary fired 31 shots on goal but only managed two scores in their 4-2 loss to Edmonton. Anthony Mantha netted his 4th goal of the season on a power play, while Yegor Sharangovich added his first goal, tying the game 2-2 in the third period.

The Flames had 22 giveaways and were held scoreless in the first period. Tyson Barrie picked up his first assist of the season on Mantha’s goal, and Mikael Backlund recorded his 4th assist.

Calgary’s defense gave up the first two goals in their previous game, with both coming in the first period. After the Flames tied it at 2-2, they allowed another goal 10:10 into the 3rd period, followed by an empty-netter with just three seconds left. Dan Vladar made 27 saves with a 90% save percentage. Defensively, Calgary finished with 13 hits and 4 takeaways.

• Over their last three regular season games, the Flames have gone 0-3 straight up. Across these games, their puck line record was just 1-2, while posting an over-under record of 2-1.
• Calgary has put together a record of 5-5 in their last ten games (regular season). In these contests, the team went just 6-4 against the spread, while going 3-7 on the over-under.

The Penguins Can Win If…

The Penguins improved to 9-12-4 with a 3-1 win over the Canadiens. Entering the game as -1.5 goal favorites, Pittsburgh covered the puck line. The total was set at 6.5 goals, but the combined score of 4 fell short of that mark.

Sidney Crosby led the way with two goals, and Blake Lizotte added an empty-netter to seal the victory. Pittsburgh’s defense held Montreal scoreless until the third period.

Sidney Crosby scored twice for the Penguins in their 3-1 win over Montreal. He netted his 4th goal of the season in the first period and followed up with his 5th on a power play in the second. Blake Lizotte added an empty-netter, his 2nd goal of the year.

The Penguins took 24 shots on goal and registered 14 giveaways. Lars Eller picked up his 3rd assist on Lizotte’s empty-net goal, while Kris Letang and Erik Karlsson assisted on Crosby’s second goal, bringing Karlsson to 7 assists this season.

Defensively, the Penguins will look to build on a strong performance against the Canadiens, where they allowed just one goal. Alex Nedeljkovic made 25 saves, finishing with a 96.2% save percentage. Pittsburgh’s defense also tallied 5 takeaways, 19 hits, and 19 blocks.

• The Penguins have posted a 2-1 record in their previous three games. Against the spread, the team is 2-1 in these same games while going 2-1 on the over/under.
• Over their last ten regular season games, the Penguins have gone 4-6 straight up. In these matchups, they ended with an puck line record of 4-6 and an over-under mark of 5-5.

The Lean

When it comes to a moneyline wager, I’m going with the Penguins to defeat the Flames while playing at home. Given the current moneyline odds at -122, I’m placing a wager on the Penguins to win outright.

For a puck line prediction, our preference is the Penguins to secure a win and cover. Anticipate the Penguins to win this one by multiple goals over the Flames.

For those assessing the over/under line set at 6.5 goals, our expectation is that this game will stay below that mark, and we suggest making a bet on the under.

Daily NHL Picks

Flames Aim to End Road Struggles Against Resurgent Penguins

The Calgary Flames and Pittsburgh Penguins are set to clash on Saturday night in Pittsburgh, with both teams experiencing drastically different trajectories over the past week. Once riding high on home ice, the Flames now find themselves in a slump as they struggle to secure a win on the road. Meanwhile, the Penguins appear to have turned a corner, stringing together back-to-back victories and rebuilding their confidence.

Flames’ Road Woes Continue

Just a week ago, the Calgary Flames capped off an undefeated four-game homestand with a dramatic 4-3 shootout victory against the Minnesota Wild. Optimism was high as they embarked on a four-game road trip through the Eastern Conference. However, three games into the trip, the Flames remain winless, including a disappointing 5-2 defeat to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Friday night.

Defenseman Rasmus Andersson expressed his frustration bluntly after the game, saying, “The first period was awful. The second period was awful. The third a push. Just not good enough. We have to be better on the road.”

The Flames’ struggles on opposing ice have been evident all season. With a 3-5-4 record away from home, compared to a dominant 9-3-0 on home ice, Calgary has lost six consecutive road games (0-3-3) and nine of their last ten. Their lone road victory since early November came against the Montreal Canadiens on November 5.

Forward Blake Coleman emphasized the urgency of reversing this trend. “It’s on each guy. Every guy in this room needs to be better. These are games we need to start taking care of on the road if we want to be taken seriously as a playoff team. It’s early, but it’s never too early to keep trying to climb up the standings. Good teams find ways to stop the bleeding.”

Offensive Struggles for Calgary

One of the Flames’ key challenges has been a lack of offensive firepower. Calgary ranks 27th in the NHL, averaging just 2.54 goals per game. The team has struggled to generate scoring chances and capitalize on opportunities, particularly during this road trip. Improving their offensive output will be critical as they face a Penguins team that is beginning to solidify its defensive structure.

Penguins Finding Momentum

In stark contrast, the Pittsburgh Penguins are trending in the opposite direction. After enduring a rough patch with just one win in seven games (1-4-2), the Penguins have now secured consecutive victories for the first time since early November. They edged out one of the NHL’s top road teams, the Vancouver Canucks, 5-4 on Wednesday, and followed it up with a gritty 2-1 triumph over the Boston Bruins on Friday.

The Penguins’ recent success is a product of improved play across the board. Philip Tomasino, acquired via trade from the Nashville Predators on Monday, delivered the go-ahead goal against Boston in just his second game with the team. Coach Mike Sullivan praised the effort, saying, “There’s a price to pay to win, and I thought our guys worked really hard tonight. The last couple of games, we look so much more like the team that we want to be. Just being proactive, controlling momentum. I just think there’s a lot to build on.”

Goaltender Tristan Jarry echoed Sullivan’s sentiments, highlighting the team’s collective defensive effort. “From top to bottom, just blocking shots, keeping pucks down low, holding onto pucks. I think we held momentum most of the game, and I think that’s what really helped us down the stretch.”

Keys to the Matchup

Both teams enter Saturday’s matchup with clear objectives:

• For the Flames:
  Calgary needs to tighten up defensively, improve puck management, and find a way to generate more offensive opportunities. Leadership on and off the ice will be crucial, as players like Andersson and Coleman have acknowledged. Winning on the road is critical if the Flames hope to prove they are playoff contenders.
• For the Penguins:
  Pittsburgh will look to continue their recent trend of playing a structured and disciplined game. Maintaining momentum and building chemistry with new acquisitions like Tomasino could give the team an edge. Strong goaltending and defensive play remain key to their success.

The Bigger Picture

This game has significant implications for both teams.

• For the Flames, a win would end their road losing streak and provide much-needed confidence heading into the final game of their trip. A loss, however, would deepen concerns about their ability to compete away from home and cast further doubt on their playoff ambitions.
• For the Penguins, a third consecutive victory would solidify their resurgence and build momentum as they push for consistency in the standings. Success against a struggling Flames squad could serve as a springboard for a stronger stretch in their season.

Conclusion

The Saturday night showdown between the Calgary Flames and Pittsburgh Penguins represents a pivotal moment for both teams. The Flames will aim to break free from their road slump and rediscover their form, while the Penguins hope to maintain their upward trajectory and continue their winning streak. Fans can expect a hard-fought contest as both teams battle for critical points.