The Panthers host the Penguins in an important matchup for both squads. Welcome back to NHL Predictions here with Last Word On Hockey! Each day, we provide in-depth analysis, insights, and predictions for all the NHL’s games. In tonight’s matchup, the Pittsburgh Penguins look to continue their great start to the season against an injury-plagued Florida Panthers team.
NHL Predictions
Florida Panthers vs. Pittsburgh Penguins
Head-to-Head: Panthers 0-0 Penguins
Time: 7:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)
How to Watch TV: SportsNet Pittsburgh; Sportsnet+
The Pittsburgh Penguins, led by the Evgeni Malkin line, take on Brad Marchand and the Florida Panthers in a Thursday night game. In this star studded matchup, just who will prevail?
The Penguins Story
Heading into the 2025-26 season, it was expected to be a difficult one. Where the Penguins were likely to finish bottom ten, if not bottom five in the league coming into the season, early returns have shown the opposite. Pittsburgh has gone 5-2-0 through it’s first seven games of the season, playing well at even-strength and special teams. The arrival of head coach Dan Muse and his coaching staff has been a revelation. The Penguins sit eighth in goals-for and seventh in goals-against in the NHL. Special teams-wise, Pittsburgh has the sixth-best power play and 13th-best penalty kill in the league. With solid play offensively and defensively, this team could be stronger than first expected.
Malkin, Anthony Mantha and Justin Brazeau, the “Mutant Line”, has continued to be the best for Pittsburgh. In their last game against the Vancouver Canucks, Malkin registered an assist, Mantha a goal and an assist, and Brazeau a goal and two assists. Behind them, Sidney Crosby and Rickard Rakell have begun waking up, and the defensive stars Kris Letang and Erik Karlsson seem primed to explode in production as well.
The Panthers Story
The back-to-back Stanley Cup Champions have faced a lot of adversity in this young 2025-26 season. Star forward Matthew Tkachuk has been out due to an injury he’s nursed since the 4 Nations Face-Off last year. In addition to his absence, two-way superstar Aleksander Barkov is expected to be out 7-9 months with an ACL injury. Even with these injuries and absences, the Cup Champs, led by former Boston Bruins captain Brad Marchand, have kept their head above water. The team has gone 4-4-0 through 8 games, staying afloat amid key absences.
Florida is led in scoring by 37-year-old star Brad Marchand, who has three goals and eight points in eight games. Marchand was moved to Florida as an expected depth option. Instead, the forward exploded in production in the playoffs and was even a Conn Smythe Trophy candidate. This has continued into this season, where Marchand has led the Panthers through a tumultuous time. Centre Anton Lundell has been producing well with six points, and young gun Mackie Samoskevich is looking to make a name for himself with the injuries, scoring two goals and four points in eight games. The Panthers will need to play a complete team game in order to get past these red-hot Penguins.
NHL Prediction
The Penguins are red hot, while the Panthers are stuck in second gear. Furthermore, with a motivated Evgeni Malkin, and Sidney Crosby yet to truly wake up this season, the Penguins are primed to improve to a 6-2 start to the season.
NHL Prediction: Penguins win 3-2.
Prop Bet for the Night
A popular prop bet is the total goals over-4, with odds of -770. Penguins vs Panthers matchups tend to turn into tight-checking affairs. Expect a low-scoring, tightly contested game here.
Main Photo Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Please play responsibly, check for your local rules and age restrictions; some jurisdictions require ages 21+. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
The post NHL Predictions: October 23rd Pittsburgh Penguins at Florida Panthers appeared first on Last Word On Hockey.