Penguins Listed as -127 Home Favorites vs Leafs on February 18; Pittsburgh Is 21-5-4 at PPG Paints Arena This Season

• The Penguins are listed as -127 home favorites over Toronto on Tuesday, February 18
• Pittsburgh is 21-5-4 at PPG Paints Arena this season
• Read below for our game preview and betting advice

Pittsburgh is a -127 favorite against Toronto at PPG Paints Arena on Tuesday, February 18 as they look to continue their dominance on home ice.

The Penguins sit second in the Metropolitan Division with 78 points, while the Leafs are third in the Central Division with 70 points. These two teams have split the season series since 2018.

How should you bet on the Penguins vs Maple Leafs odds?

Penguins vs Maple Leafs Odds

Odds taken Feb. 17

Pens Excel at Home

The Penguins come into this game with one of the best home records in the NHL. Pittsburgh is an impressive 21-5-4 at PPG Paints Arena and has only lost three times at home (once in regulation) since the start of the New Year.

VICTORY AT PPG PAINTS ARENA! pic.twitter.com/4kvZB7sFzh

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) February 16, 2020

The Penguins, in general, are playing very good hockey right now with a 7-2-1 record in their last 10 games, while Toronto has been inconsistent with a 5-4-1 record in their last 10 contests. Pittsburgh has scored a power-play goal in four straight games and will get to face a Leafs penalty kill that is ranked ninth-last in the NHL.

Pittsburgh is thriving due to a great combination of offense and defense. They rank eighth in the NHL in goals-per-game (3.30) and seventh in goals-against-per-game (2.67). Toronto has a top-five offense, but their 3.25 goals-against-per-game is seventh-worst in the league.

Pittsburgh Dominated Previous Meeting

The Leafs and Penguins have already met once this season, and it didn’t go well for Toronto. Despite not having Sidney Crosby or Kris Letang in the lineup, Pittsburgh took it to the Maple Leafs, outshooting them 38-33 and winning 6-1.

Not only will Pittsburgh have both Crosby and Letang back for this meeting, but Pittsburgh has since added a new weapon to play with Sid. The Penguins recently acquired Jason Zucker from Minnesota, and he’s already made an impact with his new club. Zucker scored two goals assisted by Crosby on Friday against Montreal and added an assist in his last game against Detroit.

With the addition of Zucker, the Penguins have two very talented scoring lines centered by two elite superstars in Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. Toronto is allowing the fifth-most amount of high-danger chances (548) in the entire league and will have their hands full with this electric Pittsburgh offense.

Jarry and Murray are Red-Hot

The Penguins enter this game with both of their goalies playing extremely well. Tristan Jarry is 3-2-0 with a .930 save percentage in his last five games, while Matt Murray is 3-1-1 with a .927 save percentage in that same span. Pittsburgh will have a goaltending advantage no matter which goalie gets the nod Tuesday.

Since Jan. 1, Matt Murray is 6-1-1 with a .929 save percentage and a 2.22 goals-against average.

“He’s doing for us what he’s done since he’s been a Pittsburgh Penguin,” Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said.

From: @MikeDeFabo ⬇️https://t.co/heQ1I2Vsik

— Post-Gazette Sports (@PGSportsNow) February 17, 2020

The same can’t be said about the Leafs goaltending, as starter Frederik Andersen continues to be inconsistent. Andersen has posted a save percentage under .900 in three straight appearances and has given up at least three goals in four of his last six starts.

Andersen wasn’t in goal against Jarry and the Penguins back in November, but his 5-2-4 record with a .885 save percentage in 11 games against the Metropolitan Division this season doesn’t ooze much confidence heading into Pittsburgh.

Betting Advice

The Penguins are playing better right now and have been getting elite goaltending. The Leafs have been inconsistent and Andersen has underwhelmed of late.

While Pittsburgh has been dominant at home, they are only 13-17 when it comes to covering the spread. Considering the Leafs have enough offensive talent to potentially cover, the Pens moneyline is the play.

Pick: Pittsburgh ML (-127)