Flames vs Penguins Picks and Prediction – 12/1/2024

On Saturday, the Calgary Flames (12-7-4) face off against the Pittsburgh Penguins (8-12-4) at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Make sure you stay up to date with all the NHL action, with our expert NHL picks.

Pittsburgh comes into this matchup on a one-game winning streak, but has dropped three of their last five games prior to their game against Boston. In a thrilling 5-4 victory against the Vancouver Canucks, Erik Karlsson showcased his playmaking skills by assisting on three goals for the Pittsburgh Penguins. So far this season, the team's captain, Sidney Crosby, has been leading the charge for Pittsburgh in terms of point production, amassing a total of 23 points. Following closely is Evgeni Malkin, who has accrued 21 points, making him the second-highest scorer for the Penguins this season. Both Crosby and Rickard Rakell have emerged as Pittsburgh's top goal scorers, each netting 8 goals. Meanwhile, Malkin is the team's leading setup man, having registered a total of 16 assists. Despite these individual performances, the Penguins have encountered challenges on the defensive end, surrendering an average of 4 goals per game over their last five matchups. This defensive struggle has contributed to their position at the bottom of the Metropolitan Division standings. However, the team is determined to turn their fortunes around, seeking to gain momentum with an important home game against the Calgary Flames. On average, the Penguins have been scoring 2.6 goals per game this season, indicating a need for improved offensive output to complement their defense.

Calgary enters this game on a two-game losing streak, but has won three of their last five games prior to their game against Columbus. In their recent 2-1 overtime defeat against the Detroit Red Wings, Connor Zary netted the only goal for the Calgary Flames. This season, MacKenzie Weegar and Rasmus Andersson have been leading the team in scoring, each accumulating 13 points. Close behind them, Nazem Kadri, Jonathan Huberdeau, and Connor Zary have each tallied 12 points. Jonathan Huberdeau has emerged as the top goal-scorer for the Flames, having found the back of the net 7 times this season. Additionally, MacKenzie Weegar leads the team with 10 assists to his name. Over their last five outings, the Flames have averaged 2.6 goals per game and are currently holding the second spot in the Pacific Division standings. They are eager to end their losing streak and return to their winning ways as they prepare to face the Pittsburgh Penguins. Overall, Calgary maintains an average of 2.6 goals per game throughout the season.

The Penguins have stumbled out of the gate this season, and they're hoping to find their footing against the visiting Flames, who are eager to secure a crucial win in Pittsburgh. Despite their enthusiasm, the Flames have struggled to perform on the road, while the Penguins have similarly faced challenges defending their home ice. Nonetheless, as these two teams prepare to face each other, fans can expect them to leave everything on the ice in pursuit of a much-needed victory. Give me the road team to get the win. Final Score Prediction, Calgary Flames win 4-1.