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Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Florida Panthers: Preview, Predictions and Picks for January 3, 2025

Updated on:
Jan 3, 2025 8:35 PM
The Pittsburgh Penguins, fresh off a strong performance led by O'Connor's 2-goal game, head to the Amerant Bank Arena to take on the Florida Panthers on Friday, January 3, 2025, at 7:00 PM. The Panthers, sitting atop the Atlantic Division with a 23-14-2 record, will look to even the regular season series against the Penguins, who currently lead 1-0. Expect a thrilling matchup between these two NHL powerhouses.
Pittsburgh Penguins vs Florida Panthers

Current Odds

PIT
FLA
Over
4.5
+155
Under
3.5
+162
PIT
+1.5
-115
FLA
-1.5
+115
PIT
ML
+1200
FLA
ML
-1111

Penguins vs Panthers statistics

Stat Penguins Panthers
Goals For per Game 3.05 3.33
Goals Against Average 3.67 3.13
Shots per Game 28.8 30.5
Shots Against per Game 31.4 27.3
Power Play Goals 29 30
Power Play Goals Against 20 21
Short Handed Goals 3 10
Short Handed Goals Against 0 0
Penalty Minutes 268 392
Power Play Percentage 26.1 24.8
Penalty Kill Percentage 81.7 81.4

Florida Panthers recent games

Game Date Opponent Result Score
12/30/24 vs New York Rangers W 5-3
12/28/24 vs Montreal Canadiens L 4-0
12/23/24 vs Tampa Bay Lightning L 4-0
12/22/24 @ Tampa Bay Lightning W 4-2
12/20/24 vs St. Louis Blues W 2-1 OT

Pittsburgh Penguins recent games

Game Date Opponent Result Score
12/31/24 @ Detroit Red Wings L 4-2
12/29/24 vs New York Islanders W 3-2
12/28/24 @ New York Islanders L 6-3
12/23/24 vs Philadelphia Flyers W 7-3
12/21/24 @ New Jersey Devils L 3-0

Florida Panthers injuries

  • Niko Mikkola (D): Out
  • Jonah Gadjovich (LW): Out
  • Matthew Tkachuk (LW): Day-To-Day
  • Jesper Boqvist (C): Day-To-Day
  • Sam Bennett (C): Day-To-Day

Pittsburgh Penguins injuries

  • Kris Letang (D): Injured Reserve
  • Owen Pickering (D): Injured Reserve
  • Marcus Pettersson (D): Injured Reserve
  • Jack St. Ivany (D): Out
  • Philip Tomasino (C): Day-To-Day

Penguins vs Panthers game info

Type Info
Venue Amerant Bank Arena
Location Sunrise, FL
Puck drop Fri 7:00 PM

Penguins vs Panthers predictions

With the Pittsburgh Penguins skating into Florida, all eyes are on Rickard Rakell and Sidney Crosby to see if they can heat things up in the Sunshine State. Rakell, with 17 goals under his belt, has been a genuine sniper, and there’s a good chance he’ll slip one past Florida’s defense. And let’s not forget Crosby—racking up 31 assists and 41 points, this guy is the heartbeat of the Penguins. You can bet he’ll be orchestrating plays that could set the ice on fire. The Penguins have a history of resilience, and with their current record, they can't afford to slip up against a strong team like the Panthers. Going in, they’ll be keen to swing the momentum of this season in their favor.

Meanwhile, the Florida Panthers aren't just going to roll over and hand the game to Pittsburgh. Keep an eye on Sam Reinhart, the center boasting 22 goals, 23 assists, and a towering 45 points. He's a force to be reckoned with, likely to test the Penguins’ defenses every time he grabs hold of the puck. His synergy with teammates can create magic on the ice, so fans at the Amerant Bank Arena should be in for a treat. Florida’s home record tells a tale of a team that's tough to beat at their venue. If Reinhart fires on all cylinders, it will be challenging for Pittsburgh to contain him.

In the grand scheme of things, predicting the winner in this electrifying clash is no small feat. Given the Panthers’ solid home track record and their considerable depth, I'd wager they might just edge ahead in this showdown. The Penguins will undoubtedly put up a fight—after all, they managed to snatch the first game of the series—but Florida's firepower, fueled by Reinhart, could very well tip the scales. Hockey is an unpredictable sport, full of surprises—so, sit back and enjoy because this one's going to be a barnburner. What do you think? Could Pittsburgh pull off another upset, or will Florida claw their way to victory?

Florida Panthers

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Florida Panthers
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Pittsburgh Penguins

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Pittsburgh Penguins
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