The Florida Panthers and Pittsburgh Penguins are trading near a pick’em ahead of their 7 p.m. ET puck drop at PPG Paints Arena on Thursday, Oct. 22.
With Pittsburgh on a 1-6-1 slide, my favorite Panthers vs. Penguins prediction and NHL picks are calling for Florida to win for the fourth time in five games tonight.
TOP PICK
Panthers vs Penguins prediction: Panthers moneyline
The Pittsburgh Penguins can’t buy a save and have dropped four straight, with a minus-7 goal differential and an .821 team save percentage at five-on-five.
This is a rebound spot for a deeper and more talented Florida Panthers roster, and the Cats have been a 5-on-5 machine again to start the year, with a third-ranked Corsi For percentage and fourth-ranked expected goal percentage.
Pittsburgh and its injury-riddled blue line have skyrocketed to 3.7 goals against per game to rank 27th in the league, while starting netminder Arturs Silovs also sports a disastrous .676 SV% against high-danger shots.
These are serious weaknesses, so I recommend the Panthers moneyline up to 52%.
COVERS INTEL: The Florida Panthers have allowed the fewest expected goals per 60 minutes at five-on-five.
Panthers vs Penguins combo
Florida star Matthew Tkachuk has gone five straight games without a goal despite his prominent offensive role, generating 1.02 individual expected goals and 13 scoring chances during that stretch.
Playing alongside center Sam Bennett, Tkachuk has been on the ice for 5.49 goals per 60 minutes and a 60.8 CF% at five-on-five, putting the duo in a great position to torch Pittsburgh's struggling defense and goaltending.
Panthers vs Penguins combo
- Panthers moneyline
- Matthew Tkachuk 1+ goals
- Sam Bennett 1+ points
Panthers vs Penguins player prop: Cooper Black 24+ saves
With the Panthers allowing the fewest expected goals per 60 minutes at 5-on-5, Florida rookie Cooper Black is well insulated for his first career start.
He posted a high-end .919 SV% across three AHL starts prior to being called up to Florida, and I’m expecting him to stand tall tonight.
Black is a towering 6-foot-8 and catches right-handed, so he’ll give the Pens a unique look between the pipes, and Panthers head coach Paul Maurice is excited about his athleticism.
I recommend this saves prop up to 55%.
Panthers vs Penguins goal scorer: Matthew Tkachuk
This goal prop is in play up to 35% because Tkachuk’s 14.3% shooting percentage is identical to the 14.3% mark he posted over the previous two seasons, and his offensive role positions him to continue generating high-quality scoring chances.
Of course, the Penguins have also surrendered 21 goals across their past four games.
- Top picks: 21-12, +14.59 units
- Combos: 2-12, -5.08 units
Panthers vs Penguins odds
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- Moneyline: Panthers 49% | Penguins 52%
- Over/Under: Over 6.5 (54%) | Under 6.5 (47%)
- Spread: Panthers +1.5 (69%) | Penguins -1.5 (32%)
For the full slate of NHL matchups, check out our NHL odds board!
Panthers vs Penguins trend
Pittsburgh has lost seven of its past eight games. Find more NHL betting trends.
How to watch Panthers vs Penguins
| Location | PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh |
| Date | Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026 |
| Puck drop | 7 p.m. ET |
| TV | SN-PIT, Sportsnet+ |
Panthers vs Penguins latest injuries
Check out our NHL injuries page for updates on every team.
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
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