Florida Panthers vs Pittsburgh Penguins Picks and Predictions for Thursday October 22 2026
Pittsburgh has lost seven of eight, and now Florida is coming to town. That’s not exactly the schedule doing the Penguins any favors. The Panthers have been scoring goals in bunches lately, including an 8-3 beating of Seattle over the weekend. Three straight games with a natural hat trick by a Florida player. You don’t see that every day.
There’s one problem for the Panthers. Jacob Markstrom got hurt in practice, which leaves Akira Schmid carrying the goaltending load for now. That’s a pretty important change when you’re trying to handicap a team that already has some injuries.
Florida visits PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh on Thursday, October 22, 2026. Puck drop is at 7:00 PM ET. The Panthers will be playing their second game in as many nights after visiting Ottawa on Wednesday. Pittsburgh is listed around -171, Florida at +142, with the total at 7 goals. For more predictions, check out our free NHL picks.
Florida Panthers Have Been Filling The Net
Florida has been finding ways to score, and Saturday’s 8-3 win over Seattle was ridiculous. Carter Verhaeghe scored three straight goals, Sam Bennett had a hat trick of his own, and Matthew Tkachuk picked up three assists. That’s a pretty good night’s work. Brady Tkachuk had scored natural hat tricks in the previous two games, making Florida the first NHL team to accomplish that feat in three consecutive contests. Whatever Paul Maurice has been telling his forwards, it’s working.
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The Panthers have enough offensive depth to make opponents miserable, but they’re not completely healthy. Aleksander Barkov remains sidelined with a knee injury, and that changes how Florida handles its forward lines. The power play hasn’t been especially dependable, either. Pittsburgh has been giving up goals, so the Panthers should get chances. But this isn’t a team I’d automatically back at any price, especially with a different goalie likely handling the start.
Brady Tkachuk and Verhaeghe have been the big stories lately, and Bennett’s three goals against Seattle showed how dangerous Florida can be beyond its top scorers. The offseason also brought a major change in net. Markstrom arrived from New Jersey in June and started 3-1-1 with a 2.21 goals-against average and .897 save percentage. Now he’s expected to miss 10 to 14 days after getting hurt in practice. Schmid becomes the likely option, with Cooper Black called up as the backup. That’s not a minor adjustment.
Pittsburgh Penguins Need Something To Go Right
Pittsburgh has been having a miserable stretch. The Penguins lost 5-4 to Utah on Monday and have dropped seven of their last eight. They can still score. Four goals against Utah should be enough to at least give you a chance. But the defensive mistakes keep coming, and the goaltending hasn’t always been able to bail them out.
The Penguins have allowed too many goals during this skid, including six against Vegas and five against Utah. Florida isn’t the opponent I’d want to face when the defense is having trouble keeping track of people around the crease. Pittsburgh needs to slow the game down and make the Panthers work through traffic. If this turns into an exchange of odd-man rushes, I don’t like the Penguins’ chances, regardless of what the betting market says.
Sidney Crosby remains the player opponents have to account for, and Evgeni Malkin can still create scoring chances. Pittsburgh has also been dealing with injuries, including defenseman Ryan Graves, while Bryan Rust and Justin Brazeau have appeared on recent availability reports. The Penguins need more than their veterans making plays. Somebody has to keep the puck out of their own net. That’s been the bigger issue.
Florida Panthers vs Pittsburgh Penguins Picks and Predictions
Florida Panthers Moneyline (+142)
I’ll take Florida at plus money. Pittsburgh is favored at home, and Markstrom’s injury is a real concern for the Panthers. But the Penguins have lost seven of eight, and I don’t see much reason to trust their defense against a Florida team that’s been scoring like crazy. Schmid doesn’t have to be perfect. He just needs to avoid giving Pittsburgh easy goals. At +142, I’m willing to take the better offensive form and live with the goaltending risk.
Over 7 Goals
I’m leaning over 7, but I’d treat this as a price-sensitive play. Florida just scored eight against Seattle, and Pittsburgh has been allowing too many goals. The Panthers are changing goalies, which could help Pittsburgh’s offense as well. Seven is a high total, and a push is possible if the game lands exactly there. Still, I can see both teams getting their chances. Florida 5, Pittsburgh 3.
Final Picks: Florida Panthers Moneyline (+142) and Over 7 Goals (price dependent)
This preview was completed October 21, 2026. Betting lines, injuries, and starting goaltenders may change before puck drop.
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