As the Vegas Golden Knights travel to take on the Pittsburgh Penguins on Sunday, both clubs are jockeying for position as the regular season nears its final stretch. Pittsburgh took a loss on Saturday and will try to bounce back on short rest, while Vegas brings a dynamic offense that will try to help them avoid a second consecutive loss. Before the puck drops in Pittsburgh, continue reading to get my Golden Knights vs Penguins prediction.
Our Golden Knights vs Penguins Pick
Pick:
Confidence: 3 out of 5
Game Snapshot
- Matchup: Vegas Golden Knights vs Pittsburgh Penguins
- Date & Time: Sunday, March 1, 2026, 1:00 PM Eastern
- Venue: PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Broadcast: TNT
Key Storylines
The Golden Knights come into this game with a record of 28-17-14, offering enough firepower to trouble most defenses. They’ve scored at a healthy clip this season, averaging over three goals per game and ranking in the upper tier of league in offense. Their power play has been a weapon as well, converting at roughly 25%. On the flip side, Vegas can be inconsistent on defense, allowing just over three goals against per contest. Still, when the offense is rolling, they can often outscore opponents in a hurry.
Pittsburgh (30-15-13) has been strong in the standings and has worked its way into second place in the Metropolitan Division. The Penguins have recently shown a high win percentage over their last 10 outings at 7-1-2, and rank solidly in goals scored and goals allowed. Their penalty kill and power play units have been among the better groups in the league, which helps keep close games within reach. However, a recent report confirmed that captain Sidney Crosby will miss at least a month due to a lower-body injury sustained at the Winter Olympics, which represents a significant loss to the Penguins’ offensive leadership and point production.
Both teams took losses in their most recent outings, with the Knights losing on Friday and the Pens losing on Saturday. Pittsburgh will have to turn things around on the second game of a back-to-back here, which is not going to be an easy task against a team as strong as Vegas.
Goaltending
Goaltenders will play a large role in determining this game’s complexion. Vegas has split starts between its netminders, both capable of keeping the team competitive. Akira Schmid is expected to get the start here, with Schmid being the only Knights goalie holding a GAA under 3.00. Pittsburgh’s goaltending tandem has shown flashes, and it is expected to be Stuart Skinner to get the start in this matchup for them.
Key Skaters
- Jack Eichel has been a key offensive driver for Vegas, contributing with goals and assists consistently.
- Pavel Dorofeyev has chipped in with plenty of scoring for Vegas, adding depth to their attack.
- On Pittsburgh’s side, players like Evgeni Malkin and other forwards will need to step up in Crosby’s absence.
Betting Trends & H2H
- This is the first of two games to be played between the Knights and Penguins this season, both of which will be played in the next two weeks.
- Vegas is 14-9-7 on the road so far this year.
- The Pens are 14-8-7 on home ice this season.
Golden Knights vs Penguins Model Projection
Score Projection:
Win Probability:
Final Thoughts
More NHL Picks
