Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Philadelphia Flyers Game 3 Preview, Picks & Odds for Wednesday, April 22, 2026

By Kody Malstrom | Apr 21, 2026, 9:19pm

Even though the Philadelphia Flyers managed to win Game 2 3-0, it was far closer than it seemed with Pittsburgh quietly doing a good job at matching their output by nearly tying them in Expected Goals 2.91-2.42. Unfortunately for the Penguins, their Shots on Goal failed to find the back of the net and they now hit the road down 0-2.

With their backs against the wall, the Penguins must find a way to break through the Flyers coverage and force Dan Vladar to scramble between the pipes. The Flyers goalie has been dominant throughout the playoffs, averaging just one Goal Against per game. With their offense harshly regressing in Expected Goals For, expect the Penguins to continue to fall short, losing in another low scoring affair.

Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Philadelphia Flyers Betting Analysis

Since the start of the regular season, the Philadelphia Flyers back line have been able to consistently smother their opponents Shots on Goal, ranking in the top-5 in Expected Goals Against in All Situations. Heading into the playoffs, the Flyers have been able to build on their momentum, sliding into the top-3 in the same previously mentioned defensive metric.

With their back line firing on all cylinders, Dan Vladar has been a brick wall, averaging just 1.00 Goal Against per game and a .955 Save Percentage in two starts. With Vladar neutralizing the Penguins front line, they are able to cut into the amount of variance in their contests, evening the playing field in their favor which has helped them get off to a 2-0 lead in the series.

While their back line has been able to thrive, the Flyers have still severely underwhelmed on offense, sitting near the bottom of the board in Expected Goals For in All Situations and in 5-on-5 Play. Their lack of versatility makes it hard for them to create space for their forwards, drastically lowering the quality of their Shots on Goal.

Speaking of underwhelming, the Penguins front line have been dealing with harsh regression, matching the Flyers abysmal grades in Expected Goals For. A cold stretch of play they can ill-afford to go through when matched up against the Flyers, especially with Vladar patrolling their net.

With both front lines struggling to pressure each other’s net, expect game three to be a low scoring defensive slugfest. While I am okay with laying a wager on the under 5.5 at +105, I will wait to see if any sportsbook gets steamed up to a flat six, giving myself some more security.

Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Philadelphia Flyers Best Bet, Pick & Prediction

Best Bet: Under 5.5 (+105)
Score Prediction: Flyers 3, Penguins

Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Philadelphia Flyers Game Odds

Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Philadelphia Flyers Game Information

Date: Wednesday, April 22, 2026
Time: 7:10 p.m. ET
Network: TNT
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Venue: Xfinity Mobile Arena – 5.5 goals per game; 14-23-4 O/U
Series Score: Flyers 2-0

Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Philadelphia Flyers Betting Resources

Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Philadelphia Flyers Key Players

Pittsburgh Penguins

Sidney Crosby – Last Game: (0 Goals, 0 Assists, 4 Shots on Goal)
Rickard Rakell – Last Game: (0 Goals, 0 Assists, 1 Shots on Goal)
Stuart Skinner – Last Game: (2 Goals Against, 20 Saves)

Philadelphia Flyers

Owen Tippett – Last Game: (0 Goals, 0 Assists, 1 Shots on Goal)
Porter Martone – Last Game: (1 Goal, 0 Assists, 6 Shots on Goal)
Dan Vladar – Last Game: (0 Goals Against, 27 Saves)

Photo Credit: AP/Gene J. Puskar

Kody Malstrom

Kody is a professional sports bettor and sports betting journalist with eight years of experience in the industry. He covers a wide range of sports, including NFL, NCAAF, NBA, NCAAB, NHL, MLB, and UFC. What started as a side gig has turned into a full time job, spending a majority of his time staring at odds screens and market movement. When away from the computer, Kody enjoys spending his time outdoors relaxing at the beach or golfing with friends.