The Pittsburgh Penguins are coming off two consecutive losses, where the common denominator has been poor defending as they've allowed a total of 11 goals. To their excuse they've faced two of the hottest teams in the NHL in the Islanders and the Rangers, but there's still a worrisome trend. The Flyers have a very potent offense and won the first meeting of the season 5-3, and I think we're in for another high-scoring encounter tonight.

Here are my keys to the game:

1. Special Teams - Both teams rank among the best in the league on the power play, and recent games have been no exception. The Pens are 5-for-11 on the man advantage over their last four games and the Flyers 3-for-6 over their last two. Philadelphia's penalty kill ranks dead-last in the NHl, and it has allowed a goal on a third of its penalties since Christmas.

2. Trends - Only one of the Pens last seven overall have gone under the total, and the over is 12-3-1 in the Flyers last 16 games playing on back-to-back days.

3. X-Factor - Four of the top five players in the NHL for points this season will feature in this contest. Claude Giroux and Jakub Voracek have 105 points combined and the Pens Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin 101.

Selection: This is a play on PIT@PHI to go over the total (10*)