The Penguins remain one of the NHL’s most successful modern franchises. With five Stanley Cup since 1991, Pittsburgh is tied for the most titles among non-Original Six teams. Their back-to-back championships in 2016 and 2017 were the first of the salary cap era.
Led by veteran stars Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang, the Penguins reached the playoffs 16 straight years until narrowly missing in 2022-23. They now aim to retool around their long-time core and regain contender status under new management.
While no longer on a decade-plus postseason streak, Pittsburgh’s knack for adapting on the fly and surrounding generational talents like Crosby and Malkin keeps them a threat. The Penguins hope their absence from the 2023 playoffs will be brief as they try to capture one more elusive Cup!
Pittsburgh Penguins Next Game
Sidney Crosby remains the superstar face of the Penguins franchise, still performing at an elite level in his 18th NHL season. Though Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang have aged, they continue contributing alongside Crosby. Young talents like Jake Guentzel now complement that veteran core.
After 16 straight playoff appearances, Pittsburgh narrowly missed the postseason in 2022-23, ending their run. They aim to retool and contend again behind new president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas, though the Crosby/Malkin/Letang era may be winding down.
With five Cups since 1991, the Penguins remain an envied model franchise. They hope their flirtation with missing the playoffs proves a short one as Crosby attempts to capture one more elusive championship before retiring.
The Penguins, with many long playoff runs, have formed some intense rivalries, especially with teams within the Metropolitan Division — like the Washington Capitals and New York Rangers. They are also one of two teams from the state of Pennsylvania — the other being the Philadelphia Flyers.
Pittsburgh Penguins Regular Season Schedule
The NHL regular season generally runs from October to April, with each team including the Penguins playing 82 games. Each team plays either four or five games against the other teams in its division as well as playing all non-divisional teams in their own conference three times. The remaining games of the season are inter-conference play, allowing every team in the league to play every other team twice.
The Penguins will play seven Saturday night home games this season. This is prime time in the NHL, making the Pens a tough opponent on home ice.
Pittsburgh Penguins Standings
The Penguins are one of eight teams in the Metropolitan Division and one of 16 in the Eastern Conference. These standings help bettors pick out the Penguins’ overall position from the league’s other 30 teams. It also offers other interesting statistics like Pittsburgh’s record at home and on the road.
Pittsburgh Penguins Betting Tips
The Penguins might be playing a division rival tonight. Are they going to win and is there any value in betting on them? Just because the Pens might win the game, it doesn't mean it was worth the risk wagering on the team considering the odds. There's more to gambling than just picking winners. You have to wisely manage your bankroll.
The Penguins got off to a slow start to begin the season. Look for them to perform better as the season progresses. Also, the Pens always seem to play well on special teams, ranking in the Top 10 on the power play and when a man short.
Here are some of the most important stats and trends to look for when deciding on your wagers:
- Team record at PPG Paints Arena or on the road.
- Team record against today's opponent this season and historically.
- Team record against a division rival or non-conference opponent.
- Player injuries or suspensions, especially to the elite play-makers.
- How many games has the team played in consecutive days.
- Current streak, whether it's winning or losing.
- Team record in last 10 games or this month.
- Who is starting in goal tonight for each team.
All of these options will help a bettor make an educated decision on whether to "play" the Penguins in their next game or not.
Obviously, there are no sure things in the world of gambling. But if the Penguins are on a six-game homestand and they're playing a team with a poor road record, it's a good bet to pick the Penguins.
There are three basic bets offered on all NHL games at online sites like Bovada — the money line, puck line and over/under totals.
Money line
Money line betting is simply wagering on the contest based on a given price rather than a point spread. The team wagered on has to win the game outright, regardless of the score.
Let's use this game as an example for money line betting: The Pittsburgh Penguins (+110) are on the road to take on the Washington Capitals (-130).
So, what do the numbers mean after the team names? First of all, if there is a minus sign in front of a number (-130), that is how much a bettor must wager to win $100. If there is a plus sign in front of a number (+110), that is how much profit a bettor makes on a $100 wager.
For example, a bettor has to wager $130 on Washington to earn a $100 profit and a $230 total return. A bettor has to wager $100 on Pittsburgh to earn a profit of $110 and a $210 total return.
Puck line
NHL puck line betting is a point spread where the line is fixed at +/- 1.5. It works as an advantage for the game's underdog by leveling the playing field between both teams. The underdog can still lose the game by a goal but win the puck line bet.
Over/under totals
A total, or over/under, bet is a wager on the total number of goals scored by both teams in a game. Oddsmakers set the mark and the bettor decides if the total will be over or under the betting line.
Online sites also offer proposition bets on each game, which include predicting the score after each period, how many goals a certain team will win by, alternative puck lines, and many more.
There's also future betting on whether the Pens will win the Eastern Conference or the Stanley Cup. Even though future odds change throughout the season and playoffs, your odds are fixed when you make your bet on Pittsburgh.
See below the top sportsbooks where you can wager online and choose the best one for you:
