Pittsburgh Penguins vs Philadelphia Flyers Picks and Predictions December 23rd 2024

Penguins Seek Offensive Spark Against Flyers in Rivalry Clash

The Pittsburgh Penguins aim to bounce back offensively against the Philadelphia Flyers in the first Keystone State rivalry matchup of the season on Monday.

Penguins Look to Rebound

The Pittsburgh Penguins (17-14-3) were shut out 3-0 by the New Jersey Devils on Saturday, managing only 12 shots on goal. The loss halted a two-game winning streak and highlighted the Penguins’ struggles to generate consistent offense.

Despite trailing just 1-0 midway through the third period, Pittsburgh was unable to capitalize on key chances, including a Grade A opportunity by Phillip Tomasino that was denied by Devils goaltender Jacob Markstrom.

“I thought for two-and-a-half periods we competed hard and were right there,” said Penguins coach Mike Sullivan. “We had two Grade A opportunities in the second period and didn’t score on either of them.”

The Penguins also lost rookie defenseman Owen Pickering to an upper-body injury after a hit late in the second period. Pickering, who has been playing alongside Kris Letang on the top pairing, may be replaced by Ryan Graves if he is unavailable against Philadelphia.

Pierre-Oliver Joseph, recently reacquired in a trade with the St. Louis Blues, filled in for Pickering and could see an increased role if injuries persist.

Flyers Riding Momentum

The Philadelphia Flyers (15-13-5) snapped a three-game losing streak with a dramatic 5-4 overtime victory against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday.

Owen Tippett was the star of the night, recording his first career four-point game, including the overtime winner.

“He flies around,” teammate Tyson Foerster said of Tippett. “Everybody on the bench is thinking the same thing – it’s pretty cool.”

The Flyers erased a two-goal deficit in the third period, with Foerster tying the game with 1:44 left in regulation. Morgan Frost added two goals, while Noah Cates and Travis Konecny each chipped in multiple points.

Cates has been red-hot, scoring in three consecutive games, while Konecny registered three assists against Columbus.

Philadelphia was without center Sean Couturier, who missed the game due to personal reasons.

Key Matchup

Pittsburgh will need to find its offensive rhythm against a Flyers team that has shown resilience and offensive depth in recent games. The Penguins’ top scorers, including Sidney Crosby and Jake Guentzel, must step up to counter the Flyers’ balanced attack.

Philadelphia, on the other hand, will look to build on its momentum and capitalize on Pittsburgh’s recent defensive challenges, especially if rookie Owen Pickering remains sidelined.

With both teams eager to secure critical division points, this rivalry matchup promises to be an intense battle.