The Pittsburgh Penguins are experiencing a less-than-ideal start to the NHL season, which is now approximately one month in. With a total of 14 points, their overall record stands at 5 wins, 3 losses, and 4 ties across the first 12 games.
Although the Pens were not considered favorites to win the Stanley Cup at the beginning of the year, they had high hopes of competing for the Metropolitan Division.
At present, they occupy the seventh position among eight teams, with a narrow two-point lead over the Islanders, who are currently in last place.
In most games, Pittsburgh manages to score adequately, but unfortunately, it is conceding an excessive number of goals. Presently, it shares the top spot with the Rangers in terms of goals against in the division, with a total of 37.
The Penguins have played a game less than their rival as well.
However, Goalie Tristan Jarry is performing exceptionally well. He holds a position in the top 10 of the league for both goals against per game and save percentage.
Backup goaltender Casey DeSmith has been unable to secure a win in both of Pittsburgh’s recent starts.
As NHL betting in West Virginia makes a comeback, let’s take a closer look at the Penguins’ upcoming schedule and their betting odds for the foreseeable future.
Pittsburgh Penguins Odds At WV Sportsbooks
After securing a victory at home against Florida on Thursday night, Pittsburgh embarks on a brief road trip. The team emerged triumphant in the shootout, clinching the win with a single goal difference.
The Pens will journey north of the border to Ottawa on Saturday and then make their way to the US capital for Sunday night.
The current trip is intriguing due to the contrasting paths taken by the Senators and Capitals. The Senators have unfortunately lost six consecutive games, whereas Washington is performing exceptionally well, holding the second spot in their division and securing three consecutive victories.
Penguins Vs. Senators Preview
Despite not performing at their peak in hockey, the Penguins are still the favored team at WV sportsbooks for Saturday night’s event. However, this betting line may have more to do with the performance of Ottawa.
According to DraftKings WV Sportsbook, the Pittsburgh team is listed as the favorite with odds of -140, while the Senators team has odds of +120.
If you choose to bet on the goal line, the Pittsburgh Penguins are offering a spread of -1.5 at +165 odds, while the Ottawa team is receiving a spread of -195.
Similar to numerous Penguins games this season, DraftKings established the total goals for the game at six.
While it may be too early to label any game as a must-win, Pittsburgh is likely under some pressure to secure the two points.
Despite its efforts, it has failed to achieve back-to-back victories. In fact, it has suffered defeats in five out of its last seven matches.
It is crucial for us to achieve a favorable outcome in this game against the struggling Senators. Having lost six consecutive matches and with only three wins throughout the year, we cannot afford to let this opportunity slip away.
On October 29, their latest win was achieved in Dallas.
Ottawa’s goal differential, currently at -15, stands out as a potentially more revealing statistic than their record. This figure places them among the NHL’s four teams with the weakest differentials.
Heading into the weekend, the Penguins have a positive score of +1.
There may be some Penguins supporters questioning why the odds are not even more favorable for their team. This can be attributed partially to their prior decision on the starting goalie.
On Friday, it was revealed that Jarry won’t be heading to Canada for Saturday’s game and will instead start against Washington. As a result, DeSmith, with his high 4.47 GAA, will be in goal for Pittsburgh in their initial encounter.
Up until now, DeSmith’s performances in both games have been easily forgettable. In a home game against Calgary, he conceded four goals in a lopsided loss. Prior to that, as the backup, he let in five goals out of 39 shots against the Panthers.
While the Penguins are expected to score many goals against Ottawa, it is crucial for DeSmith to show some improvement compared to his past performances.
Penguins Vs. Capitals Preview
The outcome of Saturday night’s event is expected to have an impact on the betting odds for Sunday’s game. Nonetheless, with the advantage of playing at home and facing a Pittsburgh team on its second consecutive game, the Capitals are likely to have the upper hand.
On Friday, Washington will be traveling to Columbus while they have their day off on Saturday.
Throughout the season, these two sides convene on a total of four occasions. The organizers thoughtfully disperse these encounters, ensuring they never clash twice within a single month.
In the previous season, Pittsburgh and Washington concluded with an equal number of 77 points each, securing the top spot in the East Division.
Due to the realigned divisions last season, teams had more opportunities to face each other, and the Penguins secured the top position by virtue of their impressive 6-2 record against the Caps.
They aim to sustain their success against a team that is likely to secure a postseason qualification once more.
Should the Pens deliver a strong performance on Saturday, the subsequent game’s odds could be quite close. It undoubtedly benefits them that their preferred goaltender is set to start.
Center Evan Rodrigues and winger Jake Guentzel are leading the scoring for Pittsburgh, with both players accumulating eight points thus far.
Rodrigues and Danton Heinen are currently tied for the team lead in goals, with both players having scored four goals each. Additionally, Rodrigues holds the second-highest plus-minus rating on the Penguins, standing at plus-4. The only player with a higher rating is defenseman Marcus Pettersson, who leads the team at plus-7.
Naturally, the Penguins require additional support as some players continue their recovery process to return to the ice. Thus far, Sidney Crosby and Bryan Rust have collectively participated in merely six games.
They will have to score a minimum of a few goals on Sunday night, as they face off against one of the NHL’s all-time greatest scorers.
Alex Ovechkin of Washington has had a remarkable beginning to the season, amassing an impressive 24 points by scoring 12 goals in just 14 games. Adding to his achievements, he scored yet another goal on Friday, bringing his total career tally to 742.
Ovechkin’s recent achievement propels him to the fourth position on the NHL scoring charts, surpassing the legendary Brett Hull. He is approaching one of the most remarkable records in any sport, Wayne Gretzky’s 894 goals.
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