NHL Predictions: March 14th, Pittsburgh Penguins at Utah Mammoth

The Utah Mammoth host the Pittsburgh Penguins for crucial points. Welcome back to NHL Predictions here with Last Word On Hockey. Each day, we provide in-depth analysis, insights, and predictions for games around the NHL. In tonight’s matchup, the Penguins and Mammoth look to gain valuable points in their respective playoff races. 

NHL Predictions featuring Pittsburgh Penguins and Utah Mammoth

How to Watch: Sportsnet+, NHL Centre Ice, Utah16, SN-PIT, ESPN+

Penguins Story

Pittsburgh comes into this game off a 6-2 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights. With the loss, Pittsburgh has lost five out of their last six games, and are 4-3-3 in their last 10. With an overall record of 32-18-5, the Penguins have fallen hard from the comfortable playoff positioning they were in just a few weeks ago. Now they are tied with the New York Islanders for second in the Metropolitan Division, while the red-hot Columbus Blue Jackets trail both teams by just two points. Still without Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, Pittsburgh is in a precarious position, where their surprisingly good season could go by the wayside just at the end of the regular season. Against Utah, the Penguins are going to have to put their best foot forward to gain a much-needed two points.  

The biggest positive to take from this stretch may be the play of defenceman Erik Karlsson. Karlsson has stepped up as a leader for the team, both offensively and defensively. Even though he failed to record a point against Vegas, Karlsson continues to generate offence and was all over the ice against the Golden Knights. Rookie Benjamin Kindel, who had gone cold for a stretch, scored a goal against the Golden Knights. He’s up to 16 goals and 31 points through 63 games this season. Defenceman Ryan Shea has been another positive. He picked up two assists against the Golden Knights and is up to four goals and 27 points on the season. In what’s been a positive season for the Penguins, Shea has been one of the biggest surprises. He’s established himself as an NHL regular and will be a pivotal piece against the Mammoth. 

With Arturs Silovs appearing in the loss, expect Stuart Skinner to come back in net for Pittsburgh. Skinner boasts an 8-5-4 record with a .891 save percentage with the Penguins this season. However, now is a good time to remind you to always confirm lineups before placing any sort of bets. 

Mammoth Story

Utah comes into this game off a hard-fought 3-2 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks in overtime. With the loss, the Mammoth are 5-3-2 in their last 10 games. Their overall record of 34-26-6 places them in the top wildcard spot in the West. In any other division, this team would have a chance to break into a divisional spot; however, Utah is 14 points behind the Minnesota Wild for the third-place spot in the Central Division. That being said, this is an exciting season for the Mammoth, who look to make their playoff debuts as a young upstart team. 

Utah has countless weapons in their arsenal, starting with forward Dylan Guenther. Guenther scored a goal against Chicago and has 31 goals with 56 points in 64 games. The Mammoth are led in scoring by Clayton Keller. The former seventh overall pick has 19 goals and 64 points in 66 games. Another forward to look out for is Nick Schmaltz, who has been freshly extended. Schmaltz has 24 goals and 59 points in 66 games. The organization has depth on defence too, with Mikhail Sergachev leading the way in defensive scoring. He’s produced 10 goals and 43 points in 62 games from the back end. 

In net, expect Karel Vejmelka to start. Vejmelka has had a good season, with a record of 30-17-3 an .898 save percentage. 

Prediction

The Penguins are floundering without their star players, while the Mammoth need to keep producing points in order to establish themselves in a playoff spot. Expect Utah to take the victory in this game over a streaky Pittsburgh team. 

NHL Prediction: Mammoth win 5-4

Prop Bet of the Night

Expecting a high-scoring game, a popular prop bet of goals over seven with odds of +210 is a good one.

Please play responsibly, check for your local rules and age restrictions; some jurisdictions require ages 21+. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.