Pittsburgh Penguins vs Vegas Golden Knights Prediction, Preview and Odds - 03/12/2026

Game Time: 10:00 pm ET, Thursday, March 12, 2026

Venue:  T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, NV

Where to Watch:  ESPN+

DraftKings:  Moneyline:  Penguins +130, Knights -155; Over/Under:  6.5 goals

Bet365:  Moneyline:  Penguins +130, Knights -155; Over/Under:  6 goals

BetMGM:  Moneyline:  Penguins +125, Knights -150; Over/Under:  6 goals

Pittsburgh Penguins:  32-17-15 (2nd place, Metropolitan Division)

Vegas Golden Knights:  29-22-14 (3rd place, Pacific Division)

Do not miss out on our expert handicapper analysis! Amedeus Mastrangelo is on a HOT STREAK in the NHL on an 8-2 NHL RUN for +$6,140 PROFIT! Make sure you check out his picks and many more from the expert handicappers featured in the Shop Picks section.

Pittsburgh Penguins:  4-2-4 last 10

Vegas Golden Knights:  4-6-0 last 10

The Penguins are entering this game with 79 points, a 32-17-15 record overall, and they are 16-8-7 in their road games this season where they will be in this game. They are entering this game off a loss against the Carolina Hurricanes in their last game, losing that one on the road 5-4 in a shootout. Bryan Rust led the team in goals scored with 2 while Anthony Mantha and Noel Acciari each scored 1 goal for them in that one. Egor Chinakhov and Erik Karlsson each led the team in assists with 2 while Tommy Novak led the team in shots on net in that game with 5. Stuart Skinner was the starting goalie in that game and he allowed 4 goals on 43 shots with 39 saves and a .907 save percentage. Their offense has scored 217 goals this season averaging 3.4 goals per game and their defense has allowed their opponents to score 193 goals against them allowing 3 goals per game.

The Golden Knights are entering this game with 72 points, a 29-22-14 record overall, and they are 14-10-7 in their home games this season where they will be in this game. They are entering this game off a loss against the Dallas Stars in their last game, losing that one on the road 2-1. Jack Eichel scored 1 goal for them in that one. Ivan Barbashev and Shea Theodore each led the team in assists with 1 while Brayden McNabb led the team in shots on net in that game with 5. Adin Hill was the starting goalie in that game and he allowed 2 goals on 16 shots with 14 saves and a .875 sv percentage. Their offense has scored 210 goals this season averaging 3.2 goals per game and their defense has allowed their opponents to score 207 goals against them allowing 3.2 goals per game.

The current betting odds have the Penguins listed as an underdog in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. The Penguins have looked good in their games this season with their 32-17-15 record overall which has them right near the top of their division in the East. They have been a good road team too with their 16-8-7 road record this year. Meanwhile, the Golden Knights have looked good in their games this season with their 29-22-14 record overall which has them in the top half of their division in the West. They haven't looked great on home ice though with their 14-10-7 home record this season. The Golden Knights are off a 2-1 loss to the Stars in their last one and they haven't looked good lately. They are 4-6-0 in their last 10 games and they have had a lot of trouble lately with 3 losses in a row now. They were leading their division in the West for a while, but lately they have been slipping as they are now in 3rd place. They haven't been that strong of a team in the West this season as a whole and they have been in a huge funk since coming back from the Olympic Break. The Penguins haven't looked any better lately as they are 4-2-4 in their last 10 games, but they have been playing in a lot of tight games lately with chances to win. They are off another loss in their last one which went to a shootout against the Hurricanes who run the East, but they will be looking to bounce back here and they have been a solid road team this season too. The Penguins have been the better team lately and they can definitely take advantage of the way the Golden Knights have been playing lately. The best way to place a bet here is on the Penguins to win this game. 

Penguins Golden Knights Prediction:  Our NHL Pick for Thursday, March 12, 2026 (10:00 pm ET start time) is Penguins 3 Knights 2.

Don't miss our champion handicappers free picks and expert hockey picks today. And if you enjoyed this Pittsburgh Penguins Vegas Golden Knights prediction, be sure to drop by every day for our weekly NHL predictions and previews.

Pittsburgh Penguins: 16-13 (+6.6 units) on the moneyline in a road game where the total is 6 or more. 19-10 (+11.5 units) on the moneyline after playing a road game. 16-10 (+6.6 units) on the moneyline against poor starting goalies - saving 89.5% of shots against or less. 7-0 UNDER after 3 or more consecutive overs.

Vegas Golden Knights: 29-36 (-21.3 units) on the moneyline in all games. 16-21 (-15.3 units) on the moneyline as a favorite of -200 or less. 3-13 (-13.3 units) on the moneyline revenging a same season loss vs opponent. 4-1 UNDER revenging a blowout loss vs opponent of 3 goals or more.

Pittsburgh Penguins:  K. Hayes (RW) Day To Day - Upper-Body. S. Girard (D) Day To Day - Upper-Body. J. Brazeau (RW) Out - Upper-Body. S. Crosby (C) Out - Leg. J. St. Ivany (D) Out - Hand. F. Hallander (C) Out - Leg.

Vegas Golden Knights:  W. Karlsson (C) Out - Lower Body. M. Stone (RW) Out - Upper-Body. J. Rondbjerg (RW) Out - Lower Body. C. Hart (G) Out - Leg.

“We just got back on our heels in the first half of the first period. We were letting them dictate the speed. Obviously the end of the third, the 6-on-5 situations, some guys executed, but I thought we got away from the things that were working in the second." - Dan Muse after his team’s loss against the Hurricanes in their game on Tuesday.

“They don’t quit. They go to the net. They finish at the net and they got the rebound [on the first goal]. It was something we pointed out they’ve done well. I noticed Dallas getting a lot of goals from interior ice. So that’s one shame on us, but there was a lot of good there too. We didn’t execute offensively great tonight overall. Our play otherwise [was good]. Not enough action at the front of the net from low to high. We’ve got some offensive guys on the back end that can certainly give us more with their shots and getting through for rebounds and tips.” - Bruce Cassidy after his team’s loss against the Stars in their game on Tuesday.

LW Yegor Chinakhov

C Rickard Rakell

RW Bryan Rust

LD Parker Wotherspoon

RD Erik Karlsson

G Stuart Skinner

LW Ivan Barbashev

C Jack Eichel

RW Braeden Bowman

LD Brayden McNabb

RD Shea Theodore

G Adin Hill

Points: Sidney Crosby (59)

Goals: Sidney Crosby (27)

Assists: Erik Karlsson (38)

GAA: Stuart Skinner (2.70)

Points: Jack Eichel (72)

Goals: Pavel Dorofeyev (30)

Assists: Jack Eichel (49)

GAA: Akira Schmid (2.61)

Coaches:

Pittsburgh Penguins: Dan Muse (1st season)

Vegas Golden Knights: Bruce Cassidy (4th season)