The Pittsburgh Penguins remain without superstar Sidney Crosby, but they are solid home favorites on the Mybookie NHL odds Friday against the Arizona Coyotes because the improved Coyotes are playing their second game in 24 hours.
How to Bet Coyotes at Penguins NHL Hockey Odds & TV Info
- When: Friday, 7 PM ET
- Where: PPG Paints Arena
- TV: NHL Center Ice
- Live Stream: NHL.tv
- Radio: SiriusXM
- NHL Betting Lines: Pittsburgh Penguins -160 (Total 5.5 goals)
Coyotes vs Penguins Last Season
The Penguins were 2-0 vs. the Coyotes, winning the one in Pittsburgh 4-0. Sidney Crosby had a goal and an assist, and Casey DeSmith stopped 39 shots. It was the sixth game in a row the Pens earned at least a point vs. the Coyotes. Arizona hasn’t won in Pittsburgh since March 25, 2014.
Why Bet on Arizona?
The Coyotes were in Philadelphia on Thursday. The team has been much better on the road this year than at home. They have earned at least a point in nine of their last 10 road games, going 7-1-2. Overall, they have the fourth best road winning percentage in the NHL at .700 with a 9-3-3 record. They are one of six teams in the NHL with nine or more wins on the road, five of which are all in the Western Conference.The Coyotes need more practice time according to coach Rick Tocchet. “There’s a lot of stuff I want to work on and stuff I want to introduce but can’t. Even the rest, which is important but guys need reps. Shoot a bucket of pucks, passing plays in practice .. You can’t go months without practice and expect guys to be sharp all the time. Veteran teams can maybe get away with it but it’s harder for younger guys.”
Darcy Keumper started Thursday, so it should be Antti Raanta here. He gave up three goals on 29 shots in a 4-2 loss to San Jose last Saturday. Raanta is 5-3-2 with a 2.65 GAA and a .924 save percentage. The Coyotes rank second in the NHL and first in the Western Conference in GAA with the tandem of Kuemper and Raanta. They have combined for a 2.26 goals-against average.
Second-year forward, Conor Garland (2015: 5th Round, 123rd overall) leads the Coyotes with 10 goals and is three off his total from his rookie season (13). Arizona’s best young player is winger Clayton Keller. The Coyotes have earned points in 13 of 15 games in which Keller records a point, going 11-2-2.
Team Stats
Offense- Goals: 2.83
- Shots: 29.90
- PP/PK Percentage: 19.28
Defense
- Goals: 2.38
- Shots: 32.48
- PP/PK Percentage: 19.28
Why Bet on Pittsburgh?
The Pens snapped a two-game skid Wednesday with a 3-0 home win over St. Louis. Tristan Jarry turned aside all 28 shots he faced. He’s now won five of his last six outings and he’s given up two goals or fewer in each of those wins. The 24-year-old is playing so well that he appears to be pushing Matt Murray out of the Pens’ net. Jarry owns a 6-4-0 record. It was his third career shutout.Stefan Noesen scored his first goal of the year in the win. Noesen was playing for the Penguins’ AHL affiliate, but they’ve suffered so many injuries that they had to sign him to a two-way deal earlier this week. Noesen gave the Pens a 2-0 lead with less than one minute remaining in the second period.
Teddy Blueger scored 39 seconds into the game to give the Penguins the early lead and Alex Galchenyuk’s second of the season early in the third period provided Jarry all the cushion he needed. It was Blueger’s first goal since Oct. 22 and jump ignited an energetic first period in which the Penguins put 15 shots on goal and didn’t allow the first St. Louis shot for more than six minutes.
Injury Report
Forwards Sidney Crosby, Nick Bjugstad, Bryan Rust and Patric Hornqvist and defenseman Brian Dumoulin were all out of the lineup due to injuries and defenseman Jack Johnson was a late scratch after falling ill before the opening faceoff. Crosby definitely won’t play Friday. Johnson didn’t take part in Thursday’s practice.Hornqvist was injured Monday in a fall during practice and he’s going to be out a while. He earlier missed seven games because of a lower body injury. Hornqvist has six goals and 11 points in 20 games. Defenseman Justin Schultz (lower body) took part in Thursday’s practice. Schultz called himself a game-time decision for Friday’s contest. He last played on Nov. 19. The Penguins are over 100 man-games lost two months into the season.
Team Stats
Offense- Goals: 3.43
- Shots: 34.54
- PP/PK Percentage: 15.66
Defense
- Goals: 2.79
- Shots: 29.36
- PP/PK Percentage: 17.36
Coyotes vs Penguins NHL Betting Trends
- Under is 8-3-1 in the last 12 meetings in Pittsburgh
- Home team is 7-2 in the last 9 meetings
- Favorite is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings
- Coyotes are 4-1 SU in their last 5 games against an opponent in the Metropolitan division
- The total has gone OVER in 4 of Arizona’s last 6 games this season
- Penguins are 6-1 SU in their last 7 games at home
- The total has gone UNDER in 9 of Pittsburgh’s last 13 games against Arizona
