...
...
Read Article
Flyers vs. Penguins prediction: Why Pittsburgh is favored to win Saturday's NHL matchup [4/18/2026]
Updated: | First published:
Written by Nick Slade, Chief Content Officer
Get Philadelphia Flyers vs Pittsburgh Penguins predictions for NHL Saturday.
NHL action continues on Saturday at 8:00 PM ET as the Philadelphia Flyers square off with the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at PPG Paints Arena.
Based on the latest simulations, Dimers' proven NHL model predicts the Penguins as the most likely winner of the Flyers vs. Penguins game.
This article offers an expanded analysis of Saturday's matchup, including projected goal scorers, best bets and player prop picks.
Flyers vs. Penguins prediction: Who will win and cover?
Using trusted machine learning and statistical analysis, we have simulated the result of Saturday's NHL Playoffs game between the Flyers and Penguins, forming part of our NHL predictions coverage.
Our leading predictive model gives the Penguins a 56% chance of beating the Flyers.
According to our model, the Flyers (+1.5) have a 65% chance of covering the puck line, while the 6-goal over/under has a 52% chance of going over.
Flyers vs. Penguins odds
We have researched the best NHL odds in America for this game, which are listed here:
| Bet Type | Flyers | Penguins |
|---|---|---|
| Puck Line | +1.5 (-198) | -1.5 (+165) |
| Moneyline | +124 | -140 |
| Total | o6 (-120) | u6 (+100) |
All odds are correct at the time of publication and are subject to change.
Flyers vs. Penguins picks and best bet
After matching our predictions against the best available odds, we can reveal our picks for each of the major markets. Plus, find our best bet for the game below:
| Bet Type | Pick | Bet Now |
|---|---|---|
| Puck Line | Flyers +1.5 | -198 |
| Moneyline | Flyers | +124 |
| Total | Over 6 | -120 |
According to our NHL best bets, the top play to make on this game is Flyers to win.
These picks are based on our probabilities matched against the implied probabilities from the sportsbook odds.
Flyers vs. Penguins player props
Who will score a goal in Flyers vs. Penguins?
According to our model, Rickard Rakell is most likely to score an anytime goal in Flyers vs. Penguins.
Our projections give Rakell a 35.2% chance of scoring a goal at PPG Paints Arena, while the star is a 6.6% chance of netting the first goal the game.
Anytime goal scorer predictions
Philadelphia Flyers
| Player | Anytime Goal Probability |
|---|---|
| Porter Martone | 28.5% |
| Tyson Foerster | 27.1% |
| Owen Tippett | 26.1% |
| Matvei Michkov | 25.5% |
| Travis Konecny | 24.9% |
Pittsburgh Penguins
| Player | Anytime Goal Probability |
|---|---|
| Rickard Rakell | 35.2% |
| Bryan Rust | 32.6% |
| Sidney Crosby | 27.2% |
| Anthony Mantha | 27.0% |
| Egor Chinakhov | 26.3% |
First goal scorer predictions
Philadelphia Flyers
| Player | First Goal Probability |
|---|---|
| Porter Martone | 5.4% |
| Tyson Foerster | 5.1% |
| Owen Tippett | 4.7% |
| Travis Konecny | 4.0% |
| Matvei Michkov | 3.9% |
Pittsburgh Penguins
| Player | First Goal Probability |
|---|---|
| Rickard Rakell | 6.6% |
| Bryan Rust | 6.1% |
| Sidney Crosby | 4.9% |
| Anthony Mantha | 4.8% |
| Egor Chinakhov | 4.7% |
Flyers vs. Penguins game-day updates and essential details
Saturday's game between the Penguins and Flyers in the Stanley Cup Playoffs is scheduled to start at 8:00 PM ET.
- Who: Philadelphia Flyers vs. Pittsburgh Penguins
- Date: Saturday, April 18, 2026
- Time: 8:00 PM ET/5:00PM PT
- Venue: PPG Paints Arena
The Stanley Cup Playoffs is the National Hockey League's postseason elimination tournament to determine the winner of the Stanley Cup.
A total of 16 teams, including the Flyers and Penguins, reached the 2026 NHL Playoffs, which includes four rounds: the First Round, Second Round, Conference Finals and Stanley Cup Finals.
Each round is played as a best-of-seven series, with the first team to four wins progressing to the next round until a champion is crowned.
Conclusion
We predict the Penguins, with a 56% win probability, will likely beat the Flyers in Saturday's NHL matchup.
Additional tools and information for betting safely can be found in our Responsible Gambling hub.
Nick Slade, with nearly two decades of experience, is the Chief Content Officer at Cipher Sports Technology Group, overseeing content for Dimers. He specializes in soccer, NBA, and NHL betting, leveraging predictive analytics and machine learning to provide accurate betting insights.
Advertiser disclosure