Philadelphia Flyers vs Pittsburgh Penguins Picks and Predictions for Monday April 20 2026
Use Code PPWC
The Philadelphia Flyers and Pittsburgh Penguins meet for Game 2 of their Eastern Conference First Round series on Monday, April 20, 2026, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Puck drop is set for 7:00 PM, and the game will be televised on ESPN. Philadelphia enters this matchup after taking the opener and now looks to build on its series lead, while Pittsburgh tries to respond on home ice. The betting line lists the Flyers at +130 on the moneyline and the Penguins at -155, with Pittsburgh -1.5 at +164 on the puck line and Philadelphia +1.5 at -198. The total is set at 6.5, with the over at +114 and the under at -135.
Previous Game Recap
Philadelphia opened the series with a 3-2 win over Pittsburgh on April 18, taking a 1-0 lead in the process. The game was tight throughout, with neither team scoring in the first period before both sides found the net in the second. The Flyers then did just enough in the third period to pull ahead and hold on. It was the kind of playoff opener that stayed close from start to finish, with limited separation and both teams having stretches where they looked capable of taking control.
For Philadelphia, the offense was spread around in a way that helped them survive a competitive road game. Porter Martone scored once and finished with three shots, while Jamie Drysdale added a goal from the blue line. Rasmus Ristolainen had a strong all-around effort with two assists, and Christian Dvorak also chipped in with an assist while putting four shots on goal. Travis Konecny and Trevor Zegras each recorded an assist, and Owen Tippett added three shots. In goal, Dan Vladar stopped 15 of 17 shots and played the full 60 minutes to secure the win.
Pittsburgh had its chances in the opener and got production from several familiar contributors, but it still came up short by a goal. Evgeni Malkin scored once and added an assist, while Bryan Rust also scored and finished with three shots. Rickard Rakell and Erik Karlsson each picked up an assist, and Sidney Crosby generated three shots while winning faceoffs at a strong rate. The Penguins had multiple players involved offensively, but the finish was not quite enough to overcome the deficit. In net, Stuart Skinner turned aside 17 of 20 shots over 57:40.
Sign Up Get $30 Premium Picks Credit + Exclusive Offers
Subscribe Now
Flyers Carry Momentum Back Into Pittsburgh
Philadelphia enters Game 2 with a 43-27-12 record and a strong 23-14-4 mark away from home. The Flyers are also riding a very good recent stretch, having recently won over Pittsburgh 3-2, Montreal 4-2, Carolina 3-2 in a shootout, and Winnipeg 7-1 before recently losing to Detroit 6-3. That run gives them four wins in their last five games, and it also means they come into this contest having already taken a road playoff game in this series.
The Flyers averaged 2.93 goals per game while allowing 2.92 goals against per game during the season. They produced 25.5 shots per game and also allowed 25.5 shots per game, which reflects a team that often plays fairly even games territorially. On special teams, Philadelphia scored 37 power-play goals and posted a 15.7 percent power-play rate, while allowing 55 power-play goals against and finishing with a 77.6 percent penalty kill. The Flyers also recorded seven shorthanded goals and did not allow a shorthanded goal.
One notable trait for Philadelphia is how balanced its overall profile looks in goals scored and goals allowed. The Flyers were not a high-volume shooting team compared to Pittsburgh, but they kept games close with nearly identical goals for and goals against averages. That kind of balance has value in a playoff setting, especially when a team is already showing confidence after recently winning the series opener on the road.
Penguins Look to Answer on Home Ice
Pittsburgh brings a 41-25-16 overall record into this game along with a 20-13-8 home record. The Penguins have not had the cleanest recent run, though, as they recently lost to Philadelphia 3-2, St. Louis 7-5, Washington 3-0, and Washington 6-3 before recently winning over New Jersey 5-2. That leaves Pittsburgh with four losses in its last five games, and the most immediate concern is that the latest of those defeats came at home in Game 1 of this series.
The Penguins were the more productive offensive team over the course of the season, averaging 3.54 goals per game while allowing 3.15. They also generated 28.6 shots per game and gave up 27.4 shots against. Their power play produced 56 goals and operated at 24.1 percent, while the penalty kill allowed 44 power-play goals and finished at 81.4 percent. Pittsburgh added six shorthanded goals and, like Philadelphia, did not allow a shorthanded goal.
The clearest strength for Pittsburgh is its offensive profile. The Penguins scored more goals per game than Philadelphia and also held the edge in shots per game and special-teams efficiency. Even with the Game 1 loss, that body of work still shows a team with the tools to push back. The issue is that recent results have been shaky, so turning those stronger season-long offensive numbers into a better finish in Game 2 becomes the biggest challenge.
Philadelphia Flyers vs Pittsburgh Penguins Picks and Prediction
Side Pick
Pick: Pittsburgh Penguins Moneyline
Pittsburgh is coming off a one-goal loss in Game 1, but the season-long numbers still suggest value on the home side here. The Penguins averaged 3.54 goals per game compared to 2.93 for Philadelphia, and they also held the edge in shots per game and power-play percentage. While the Flyers have been sharper lately and already stole one on the road, Pittsburgh’s home setting plus its stronger offensive production make the Penguins the side I would back in Game 2.
Total Pick
Pick: Over 6.5
This total is a little tricky because Game 1 finished with only five goals, but I still lean toward the over based on the season numbers each team brings into the matchup. Pittsburgh averaged 3.54 goals per game and allowed 3.15, while Philadelphia sat at 2.93 scored and 2.92 allowed. The Penguins’ recent games have also featured some higher-scoring results, including a 7-5 loss and a 6-3 loss. With Pittsburgh likely pushing harder offensively in Game 2 and Philadelphia already showing it can score enough to win in this building, the over has appeal.
Final Score Prediction: Pittsburgh Penguins 4 – Philadelphia Flyers 3
Never Tried Picks and Parlays? Now Is Your Chance
- Get your first daily picks package for ONLY $1 using coupon code BUCK
- If the pick loses, we credit your account with 3 Flex Picks
- If the pick wins, we still give you 1 Flex Pick on the house
- Win or lose, you walk away ahead. One dollar. No catch.
Up To $1500 in Bonus Bets Paid Back if your First Bet Does Not Win
New Users – Bet $5 Get $200 in Bet Reset Tokens for 5 Days
New DraftKings Customers: Spend $5+ Get $200 in Bonuses Instantly!
