🏒 Flyers vs. Penguins Game 1 Prediction: Today's NHL Playoff Picks & Odds (April 18)
The Keystone State rivalry starts when the Philadelphia Flyers face the Pittsburgh Penguins in primetime on Saturday night. The Penguins will play host and look to avenge a prior 4-3 loss to their divisional rival on March 7.
Oddsmakers are on the Penguins as a sizable -150 betting favorite, with the total set to 6.5. Tonight's opening puck drop is set for 8 p.m. ET from PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, airing on ESPN.
My Flyers vs. Penguins Game 1 prediction features a moneyline pick, a total, and a correct score prediction at +1700 odds. I'm also on Flyers forward, Travis Konecny, in the player prop market.
🏒 Flyers vs. Penguins picks & odds today: April 18
See all of our experts' NHL picks based on the latest NHL odds.
| 💰 Pick | ⚖️ Bet size (units) | 🧠 Why I bet this |
|---|---|---|
| Flyers Moneyline (+125 via BetMGM) | 1u → 1.25u | Flyers 11-2 SU in last 13 road games. |
| Over 6.5 (+110 via DraftKings) | 1u → 1.10u | Total has gone over for Penguins in six of previous seven games played. |
| Travis Konecny Over 0.5 points (-125 via DraftKings) | 1u → 0.80u | Recorded a point in two of past three H2H matchups. |
Total wagered: 3.0 units | Max profit: 3.15 units
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🏆 Who will win Flyers vs. Penguins?
Oddsmakers are bullish on the Penguins to defend home ice tonight. The public is also backing Pittsburgh, with 73 percent of moneyline wagers on the Penguins.
The Flyers won't be pushed around at PPG Paints Arena. Philadelphia is 6-1 SU in its last seven games played, including 11-2 SU in their last 13 road matchups. The Flyers posted a 4-3 win over the Penguins at PPG Paints Arena in their last meeting on March 7.
I'm taking the Flyers to win this one by a goal, likely in overtime, spoiling the Penguins' home opener in Game 1.
Score prediction: Flyers 4, Penguins 3
💰 Flyers vs. Penguins prediction & best bet
Over 6.5 (+110)
Out of Saturday's three-game slate, only this Flyers vs. Penguins matchup has a total set to 6.5. This tips us off that oddsmakers expect a high-scoring affair between these Metropolitan Division foes.
Over 6.5 has won in two of the last four games for the Flyers and four of the Penguins' previous five outings. The last two head-to-head matchups have also gone over 6.5.
Game 1 should see goals flowing from both sides tonight, especially the Flyers, who have a more volatile goaltender to face in Stuart Skinner. Head over to DraftKings to get the biggest value on over 6.5 total goals at +110 odds.
🔥 Best Flyers vs. Penguins player prop bet
Travis Konecny Over 0.5 points (-125)
The Flyers lean on Konecny as a veteran presence and their total points leader heading into Game 1. Konecny has notched a point in two of three matchups against the Penguins this season, while more recently recording an assist in two of his previous three starts.
Konecny skates on the second attack line and primary powerplay unit for the Flyers, so he'll have a few prime scoring chances. Konecny is likely to draw Skinner in the net tonight, who has allowed three goals in his last two starts against Philadelphia.
DraftKings once again has the best line for Konecny to go over 0.5 points in tonight's Game 1 divisional matchup. Lay -125 on Konecny to record 1+ points during the Flyers' win over the Penguins at PPG Paints Arena tonight.
🚀 Flyers vs. Penguins same-game parlay
We're going to rip a 2-leg same-game-parlay on the Flyers to win a high-scoring thriller on the road tonight. We've seen Philadelphia rise to the occasion and punch its playoff ticket by stacking wins down the stretch. I'm betting a half unit at DraftKings' +373 odds for the Flyers to secure a victory in Game 1.
💵 Flyers vs. Penguins SGP picks
- Flyers Moneyline (+125)
- Over 6.5 (+110)
Best odds: +373 via DraftKings (0.5u -> 1.86u)
💵 My betting record for NHL picks
All NHL picks, including SGPs, have been tracked since April 1.
| Bet type | Record | Net profit | ROI |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 11-16-1 | +0.12 units ✅ | +0.5% ✅ |
| Game picks | 4-3 | +1.03 units ✅ | +14.7% ✅ |
| Player props | 2-5 | -3.50 units ❌ | -50.0% ❌ |
| Parlays | 2-5 | +3.13 units ✅ | +89.4% ✅ |
💡 How I'm betting Flyers vs. Penguins
Follow all of our NHL analysis and expert predictions this season.
The Flyers are getting no respect in betting markets or from the public to contend with a fully healthy Penguins roster on the road tonight. The stakes have been higher for Philadelphia across the last few weeks, which gives them an edge that will be hard for Pittsburgh to unleash out of the gate.
Dan Vladar and Stuart Skinner are both streaky netminders. The Penguins are a top-three offense for goals scored per game this season, while the Flyers' offense has also scored three-plus goals in five consecutive matchups.
As a result, Over 6.5 is my best bet, so place a full-unit wager on both teams to have success on offense during Saturday night's divisional rivalry game.
📊 Live Flyers vs. Penguins odds
Since lines opened on the Penguins as -148 to -150 betting favorites, there hasn't been much movement in either direction. The total has also remained flat at 6.5, with most sportsbooks pricing under 6.5 at -124 or shorter, creating value on over 6.5.
📈 Flyers vs. Penguins betting trends
| Flyers | Statistic | Penguins |
|---|---|---|
| 43-27-12 | W-L record | 41-25-16 |
| 52-30 | ATS record | 48-34 |
| 41-40-1 | O/U record | 48-34 |
| 4-1 | Last 5 games | 2-3 |
🚑 Flyers vs. Penguins injuries
📺 How to watch Flyers vs. Penguins
- Date: Saturday, April 18
- Puck drop: 8 p.m. ET
- Location: PPG Paints Arena (Pittsburgh)
- TV: ESPN
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