Betting pick: Philadelphia Flyers vs Pittsburgh Penguins - The Battle of Pennsylvania - Prediction 3/7/26
Updated July 9, 2026
The "Battle of Pennsylvania" returns to PPG Paints Arena this Saturday, March 7, 2026, as the Pittsburgh Penguins host the Philadelphia Flyers. Both squads are navigating the final stretch of the Metropolitan Division race with significant lineup changes following the trade deadline and the 2026 Winter Olympics. The Penguins (31-17-13) are currently fighting to maintain their top-three seed while missing their captain, while the Flyers (28-22-11) are looking to string together road wins to keep their Wild Card hopes alive. Expect a physical, high-intensity matchup between these two historic rivals. Read on for our full prediction or visit our NHL page.
Pick: Pittsburgh Penguins Moneyline (-120) ATS PRO
Confidence: ★★★☆☆
Despite the absence of Sidney Crosby, the Penguins remain slight favorites due to their strong home record (19-10-6) and the steady play of Stuart Skinner. The Flyers have struggled with consistency in March, particularly on the defensive end, where they are allowing an average of 3.4 goals per game over their last five outings. Betting markets are leaning toward a high-scoring game, as the "Over" has hit in four of the last five head-to-head meetings between these teams. With Evgeni Malkin’s status in question, the line may shift toward the Flyers if he is ruled out, but Pittsburgh’s depth scoring has been surprisingly resilient lately.
Stuart Skinner has been the backbone of Pittsburgh’s recent run, posting a .908 save percentage since the Olympic break. On the other side, Dan Vladar has been forced into a heavy workload with Ersson sidelined. Tonight's winner will likely be the goalie who can weather the early storm that always defines a Penguins-Flyers rivalry game.
The Flyers' offense is now powered by Matvei Michkov and Trevor Zegras, who represent a significant shift in Philadelphia's playing style. They face a Penguins team missing its iconic leaders, forcing veterans like Kris Letang and Erik Karlsson to log massive minutes to maintain order in the defensive zone.
Score Projection: Pittsburgh 3 – Philadelphia 2 (OT) ATS PRO
Win Probability: Pittsburgh 54%, Philadelphia 46% ATS PRO
Even without Crosby and potentially Malkin, the Penguins' defensive structure and Stuart Skinner's form at home make them the safer bet. The Flyers have elite talent in Michkov, but their blue line injuries and inconsistent goaltending from Vladar may not hold up against Pittsburgh’s high-volume shooting. Expect a tight, gritty game that favors the home crowd.
