Pittsburgh Penguins vs Florida Panthers Picks and Predictions December 3rd 2024

The Panthers and Penguins are set to face off at 7:00 ET on ESPN+. The Penguins will host the game at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA. The Panthers are the -1.5 goal favorite in this Eastern conference matchup against Penguins. The over/under for the game is set at 6.5 goals.

Florida vs. Pittsburgh Key Information

• Teams: Panthers at Penguins
• Where: PPG Paints Arena Pittsburgh
• Date: Tuesday, December 3rd
• Betting Odds FLA -169 | PIT +143 O/U 6.5

The Panthers Can Win If…

Florida improved to 15-9-1 with a 4-2 road win over the Stars. The Panthers covered the puck line as -1.5 goal favorites, and the total of 6.5 goals went under, as the teams combined for 6 goals.

All four of Florida’s goals came from different players, with A.J. Greer breaking a 2-2 tie at 2:32 in the third period. Sam Reinhart added an empty-net goal at 19:00 to seal the win.

Florida’s offense fired 25 shots on goal in their 4-2 win over Dallas. A.J. Greer netted his first goal of the season, while Sam Reinhart added his 10th with an empty-netter. The Panthers had 16 giveaways and scored twice in the third period.

Four different players found the net, with Matthew Tkachuk scoring his third goal of the season on a power play. Florida’s first goal came from Evan Rodrigues, his third of the year. The Panthers registered 6 assists in the game.

Defensively, the Panthers will look to carry their momentum from their previous game, where they gave up the first two goals but then shut down the Stars. Spencer Knight made 23 saves with a 92% save percentage, and the Panthers’ defense added 8 takeaways and 22 hits.

• Spanning across their last three games, Florida have gone 3-0. This also includes going 3-0 puck line and an over-under mark of 2-1.
• Across Florida’s last ten regular season games, their record sits at 4-6. Across these games, their puck line record was just 4-6, while posting an over-under record of 5-5.

The Penguins Can Win If…

Pittsburgh improved to 10-12-4 with a 3-1 win over the Canadiens. The Penguins covered the puck line as -1.5 goal favorites, and the total of 4 goals fell short of the 6.5 goal line.

Sidney Crosby scored twice for the Penguins, with his second goal coming at 1:20 in the second period. Montreal cut the lead to 2-1 in the third, but Blake Lizotte’s empty-net goal at 19:15 sealed the victory for Pittsburgh.

Sidney Crosby opened the scoring for the Penguins, netting his 4th goal of the season at 4:03 in the first period. He followed up with a power-play goal, his 5th of the season, at 1:20 in the second period. Blake Lizotte added an empty-netter, his 2nd goal of the year, with 45 seconds left in the game.

Pittsburgh fired 24 shots on goal and recorded 14 giveaways. The Penguins scored once in the first period, again in the second, and capped their scoring with Lizotte’s empty-netter in the third.

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

• Over their last three games, the Penguins have gone 3-0 straight up. Their strong play has also resulted in an puck line mark of 3-0 (last 3). They had an over/under mark of 2-1 in those same games.
• The Penguins have gone 4-6 over their last ten regular season games. Their record against the puck line in this stretch is 4-6 to go along with an over-under mark of 6-4.

The Lean

When making a moneyline pick, my choice is the Penguins to come out with a win against the Panthers while playing at home. Considering the moneyline odds at +143, I’m placing my bet on the Penguins to win outright.

If you’re looking to get a bet down on this matchup, we foresee the Penguins winning the underdog. However, if you’re not as confident in the Penguins straight-up, we’d still recommend placing a bet on them to cover the puck line.

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

Panthers Riding High with Explosive Offense

The Florida Panthers (15-7-1) enter Tuesday’s game against the Pittsburgh Penguins brimming with confidence. The Atlantic Division leaders are on a three-game winning streak, fueled by back-to-back six-goal performances against the Carolina Hurricanes in a home-and-home series.

Florida’s offense is clicking on all cylinders, with a season-high three power-play goals in Saturday’s commanding 6-0 victory over Carolina. The Panthers also defeated Toronto 5-1 earlier last week, signaling a resurgence after a brief slump in early November.

Key Player Spotlight:

• Aleksander Barkov: The Panthers’ captain dominated November with 21 points (5 goals, 16 assists), tying a franchise record with his fifth 20-point month. Barkov’s consistent playmaking has been pivotal for Florida’s offensive success.
• Brandon Montour: A critical force on the blue line, Montour has bolstered the Panthers’ defensive efforts while contributing offensively.

Despite their recent success, head coach Paul Maurice noted that Florida is still refining its overall game.

“We’re not behind it that much, but we’re not at our level,” Maurice said. “Our leadership got the room going, and the energy is back.”

Penguins Find Stability Amid Defensive Adjustments

The Pittsburgh Penguins (11-11-2) are coming off a morale-boosting 6-2 win over the Calgary Flames, which capped a three-game winning streak. This run followed a tough nine-game stretch (2-5-2) that saw Pittsburgh struggle defensively, allowing 39 goals.

Head coach Mike Sullivan credits the Penguins’ recent success to a commitment to simplifying their game and limiting opponent scoring chances.

“When you play an honest game and don’t chase offense, you create opportunities in different ways,” Sullivan said.

Standout Performances:

• Kris Letang: The veteran defenseman tallied three points against Calgary, showcasing his offensive and defensive prowess.
• Michael Bunting: The forward matched Letang with three points, signaling a potential offensive uptick for the Penguins.

Pittsburgh’s defense remains a concern, as the team leads the league in goals allowed (100) and ranks second-highest in goals-against average (3.77). However, the Penguins showed promise in limiting Calgary to just 26 shots on Saturday.

Key Matchup: Panthers’ Offense vs. Penguins’ Defense

Tuesday’s game highlights a clash of styles:

• Panthers’ Scoring Power: Florida’s 3.64 goals per game rank fifth in the NHL. With Barkov at the helm, the Panthers have an arsenal of offensive weapons.
• Penguins’ Defensive Challenge: Pittsburgh must maintain its recent defensive improvements against Florida’s high-octane attack.

Who’s Your Pick? Find out what our experts think with NHL picks today.

Game Notes and Predictions

1. Home-Ice Advantage: Pittsburgh looks to build on its recent success at PPG Paints Arena.
2. Special Teams Battle: Both teams excelled on the power play in their last outings, with each netting three goals.
3. Goaltending Factor: Florida’s Sergei Bobrovsky faces a Penguins team that has struggled to capitalize on scoring chances in past losses.

Prediction: Florida’s dynamic offense gives the Panthers a slight edge, but the Penguins’ recent adjustments could make this a tightly contested game.

Panthers 4, Penguins 3