Squaring off for the fourth and final time this season, the Pittsburgh Penguins and the New Jersey Devils take the ice at the Prudential Center in a divisional showdown. The first puck will drop at 7 p.m. ET on Thursday, March 29, and fans at home will be able to catch the game live on MSG Network.
Pittsburgh Penguins at New Jersey Devils Odds
Pittsburgh (-130) is currently the favorite over New Jersey (+110) and the Over/Under (O/U) has been set at 6 goals (-125 money on the over, +105 on the under).
Pittsburgh is 43-34 straight up (SU) and has lost 4.5 units for moneyline bettors this year. 44 of its contests have gone over the total, while 31 have gone under and just two have pushed. As the away team this season, the Pens are 15-24 SU.
Pittsburgh currently touts the second-best power-play unit in the NHL, as it’s scored on 25.9 percent of its extra-man chances this year. Additionally, its penalty kill is ranked 19th in the league, and the team’s successfully killed off 79.9 percent of all penalties.
For the team as a whole, the Pens have been penalized 4.0 times per game this season, and 3.0 per game over its last five on the road. The team’s been forced to kill penalties just 7.1 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Sporting a .907 save percentage and 26.2 saves per game, Matt Murray (26-19-3) has been the primary option in goal for Pittsburgh this season. If it chooses to rest him, however, Pittsburgh may roll with Tristan Jarry (15-11-2 record, .908 save percentage, 2.77 goals against average).
Evgeni Malkin and Phil Kessel will both look to continue their strong seasons for the visiting Penguins. Malkin (93 points) has tallied 42 goals and 51 assists, and has recorded multiple points in 25 different games. Kessel has 30 goals and 55 assists to his creditand has registered a point in 54 games.
On the other bench, New Jersey is 40-36 straight up (SU) and has earned 10.9 units for moneyline bettors this season. 38 of its games have gone over the total, while 36 have gone under and just two have pushed. The team is 20-17 SU at home this season.
The Devils have converted on just 20.9 percent of their power play opportunities this year, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 10th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 82.0 percent of all penalties.
Devils players have been called for penalties 3.7 times per game in total this season, and 2.4 per game over their last five home outings. The team’s had to kill penalties just 6.4 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Cory Schneider has denied 28.0 shots per game as the top netminder in goal for the Devils. Schneider has 18 wins, 21 losses, and six overtime losses and has recorded a fairly-weak .909 save percentage and 2.88 goals against average this year.
Taylor Hall (33 goals, 52 assists) will pace the offensive attack for the Devils.
Pittsburgh Penguins vs. New Jersey Devils Betting Predictions
Free Pick: SU Winner – Penguins, O/U – Under
Notes
Betting Trends
Penalties and power plays could prove to be extremely important in tonight’s game. The Penguins are 20-11 in games where they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 27-22 when they’re in the penalty box for fewer than 10 minutes, total. The Devils are 11-20 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than the opposition and 21-28 in games where total penalty minutes are in the single digits.
Pittsburgh is 2-2 in games decided by a shootout this season while New Jersey is 5-4 in shootouts.
The over has hit in four of New Jersey’s last five outings.
New Jersey is scoring 3.0 goals per game over its three-game winning streak.
New Jersey skaters have averaged 7.6 giveaways over its last five home games, right in line with its season average of 7.9 giveaways per game (ranked 7th overall).
Pittsburgh is ranked 13th this season with 9.0 giveaways per game. That figure has trended higher, as it’s averaged 12.3 giveaways over its last 10 games and 12.6 giveaways over its last five.
This game features two of the more aggressive defenses in the league. Pittsburgh skaters have dished out the ninth-most hits in the league (23.7 per game) and the Devils have tallied the 12th-most (22.6).
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