Puck drop is scheduled for 1:00 PM ET
Venue: PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
TV: TNT / HBO Max / Sportsnet 360 / TVAS
Radio: Pittsburgh Penguins Radio Network / Golden Knights Radio / SiriusXM NHL / NHL App
Game Context
The Penguins sit 2nd in the Metropolitan Division with 73 points and are fighting to lock in a top-3 spot in a tight Eastern race. The Golden Knights lead the Pacific Division with 70 points and hold the top wild-card positioning edge in the West. This is the first (and only scheduled) meeting of the 2025-26 season between the non-conference foes. Pittsburgh is playing the second half of a weekend back-to-back after a Saturday matinee loss in New York; Vegas is on the tail end of a short Eastern road swing.
Recent Form
Pittsburgh Penguins (3-1-1 in last 5, 1-game losing streak):
- L 2-3 (SO) vs. NY Rangers (Feb 28) — back-to-back fatigue showed in shootout
- W 4-1 vs. New Jersey (Feb 26)
- W 5-2 at Buffalo (Feb 5, earlier stretch)
- L 4-5 (OT) at NY Islanders (Feb 3)
- L 2-3 vs. Ottawa (Feb 2)
Penguins are averaging 3.40 GF/G but have been leaky defensively without their captain (2.85 GAA still solid). Home record is strong at 14-8-7.
Vegas Golden Knights (3-2-0 in last 5):
- L 2-3 vs. Washington (Feb 27)
- W 6-4 at Los Angeles (Feb 25)
- W 4-1 vs. Los Angeles (Feb 5)
- W 5-2 vs. Vancouver (Feb 4)
- L 3-4 at Anaheim (Feb 1)
Vegas is rolling offensively at 3.36 GF/G and has won 3 of 4 on the road recently. The Knights are 14-9-7 away from T-Mobile Arena.
Injury Report
Vegas Golden Knights
- William Karlsson (C) — OUT (lower body — out since November 8; no clear return timeline)
- Carter Hart (G) — OUT (leg — LTIR)
- Brett Howden (C) — OUT (lower body — LTIR)
- Alex Pietrangelo (D) — OUT (IR)
- Jonas Rondbjerg (RW) — DAY-TO-DAY (undisclosed)
Vegas has adapted by sliding Mitch Marner to center on the top line with Jack Eichel and Mark Stone. Adin Hill is expected to start in net.
Pittsburgh Penguins
- Sidney Crosby (C) — OUT (leg — IR; sustained at Olympics; expected return ~March 26)
- Jack St. Ivany (D) — OUT (hand — IR)
- Filip Hallander (C) — DAY-TO-DAY / OUT (leg)
- Caleb Jones (D) — OUT (IR-NR)
Huge blow for Pittsburgh without Crosby (27G-32A-59P in 56GP). Evgeni Malkin slides into the top-line center role. Arturs Silovs or Stuart Skinner (who started Saturday) gets the nod.
Key Player Matchups
- Top Lines: Eichel-Stone-Marner (VGK) vs. Malkin-Rust-Rakell (PIT) — Eichel (team-leading scorer) exploits the Crosby-less middle; Malkin must carry the load.
- Goalie Duel: Adin Hill (.877 SV%, 3.05 GAA) vs. Arturs Silovs / Stuart Skinner (.895+ SV% tandem) — Pittsburgh’s goaltending has been a strength; Hill has been streaky on the road.
- Defense/Physicality: Noah Hanifin / Brayden McNabb (VGK shutdown pair) vs. Kris Letang / Erik Karlsson — Letang logs heavy minutes without Crosby; Vegas’ speed tests Pittsburgh’s aging blue line.
- Special Teams: VGK PP ranks mid-pack; Penguins PK is elite (84%+) but vulnerable without Crosby’s faceoff/penalty-kill prowess.
Series History
- 2025-26: First meeting (0-0).
- All-time regular season: Penguins lead the season-series history and have never lost a full season series to Vegas since 2017-18.
- Last 9 meetings: Penguins 6-3-0.
- Recent trend: Pittsburgh is 4-1 in last 5 home games vs. VGK and has covered the puck line in most recent encounters.
Betting Trends
- Penguins are 6-3-0 all-time vs. VGK and strong at home (14-8-7) but 1-4 SU/ATS in their last 5 overall.
- Golden Knights are 14-9-7 on the road and 3-2 ATS as road favorites this season.
- Back-to-back for Pittsburgh: 4-6 SU in such spots this year.
- Total has gone UNDER in 7 of Pittsburgh’s last 10 home games and 4 of Vegas’ last 6 road games.
- VGK 3-2 SU last 5; Penguins struggling without Crosby (2-3 SU in last 5 without him).
Game Odds
Vegas Golden Knights – 155
Pittsburgh Penguins 6.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Saturday, February 28, 2026
