Pittsburgh Penguins vs Vegas Golden Knights Picks and Prediction for Saturday October 17, 2026
The Pittsburgh Penguins will head to Las Vegas, Nevada, Saturday night for a matchup against the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena. The game is scheduled to begin at 10 PM ET, with streaming coverage available on ESPN+. Pittsburgh is 3-5-1 on the year and will play its second straight night after Friday's loss to the Colorado Avalanche. Vegas returns home 7-2 on the year, looking to continue its strong start, having won 4 of its last 5, including 2 in a row after a 4-goal win over the Calgary Flames. Vegas comes into Saturday as a huge -238 home favorite. Pittsburgh is a +195, and the total is 6.5. For other NHL news, see our NHL Picks.
Pittsburgh tries to end their skid
The Pittsburgh Penguins offense comes into Saturday averaging 3.43 goals on 28.4 shots per game this season. Defensively, Pittsburgh has been below average, allowing three goals on 28.3 shots per game, but they have given up 21 goals across their last four losses. Erik Karlsson is leading the Pittsburgh offense this season with 7 points, and he has posted a team-high 7 assists. Samuel Girard is 2nd on the roster with five points this season. Evgeni Malkin and Tommy Novak are both tied for third on the roster with five points each. Nick Robertson leads Pittsburgh this season with four goals through seven games.
Arturs Silovs was terrible in the net Friday night for Pittsburgh, giving up five goals on 32 shots to post an .844 save percentage. Bryan Rust and Evgeni Malkin led the charge for the Pittsburgh scoring with one goal each. Sidney Crosby, Ville Koivunen, Samuel Girard, and Erik Karlsson all added to the Pittsburgh scoring with one assist apiece.
Key Injury Report for Pittsburgh:
- Egor Chinakhov (Out) - Oct 17
- Trevor van Riemsdyk (IR) - Oct 17
- Justin Brazeau (IR) - Oct 22
- Ryan Graves (IR) - Oct 24
Vegas tries to defend home ice
The Vegas Golden Knights offense has carried them this season, averaging 3.89 goals on 31 shots per game, and they have scored seventeen goals across their last four wins. Defensively, Las Vegas has been just as strong, giving up 2.44 goals on 25.6 shots per game. Jack Eichel is leading the Vegas offense this season with 16 points, and he has boasted a team-high 11 assists. Mark Stone is second on the roster with 11 points, along with a team-leading six goals. Mitch Marner is third on the team with nine points, and Tomas Hertl is one of two players with seven points this season.
Carter Hart led Vegas in their last outing, giving up two goals on 30 shots to post a .933 save percentage. Mark Stone erupted for the Vegas offense with a hat trick in just over 14 minutes on the ice. Jack Eichel added one goal and two assists, while Brett Howden and Braeden Bowman both had 1 goal each.
Key Injury Report for Vegas:
- Parker Wotherspoon (Out) – Oct 20
- Lukas Cormier (IR-NR) – Oct 22
Pittsburgh Penguins vs Vegas Golden Knights Picks and Prediction
Pick: Vegas Golden Knights -1.5
Vegas should have a considerable advantage Saturday night against a Pittsburgh team facing a difficult back-to-back situation. The Golden Knights have several dangerous offensive players, including Jack Eichel, Mark Stone, and Mitch Marner, who can create scoring opportunities through their puck movement and ability to find open space. Pittsburgh still has experienced offensive talent with Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, but the Penguins could have difficulty matching Vegas' depth throughout the game. The Golden Knights should look to establish pressure early and force Pittsburgh to spend extended stretches defending in its own zone. Playing consecutive nights could also become a factor for the Penguins as the game progresses, particularly if Vegas controls possession and forces Pittsburgh into long defensive shifts. Expect the Golden Knights to take advantage of their offensive depth and secure a home win and cover.
Pick: Over 6.5
Vegas has enough offensive weapons to produce several goals against Pittsburgh, particularly if the Penguins struggle defensively after playing the previous night. Eichel and Marner give the Golden Knights excellent puck movement and playmaking ability, while Stone can capitalize on opportunities around the net. Pittsburgh will need to remain disciplined against a Vegas offense that can create dangerous chances when opponents lose their defensive assignments. The Penguins also have enough experience offensively to contribute to the scoring, especially if Crosby and Malkin are able to generate opportunities on the power play. However, Pittsburgh could be forced to take additional chances if Vegas establishes an early lead, potentially creating more openings for the Golden Knights. With Vegas capable of generating consistent offensive pressure and Pittsburgh possessing enough scoring talent to respond, the over is the selection.
Final Picks: Vegas Golden Knights -1.5 and Over 6.5
Game Written Before Completion of the Game on Friday