Two teams currently on three-game losing skids, the New Jersey Devils and the Pittsburgh Penguins take the ice at PPG Paints Arena. AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh will showcase this divisional matchup, which gets underway at 7 p.m. ET on Monday, November 5.
New Jersey Devils vs. Pittsburgh Penguins Odds
Pittsburgh comes into the matchup as the obvious favorite with a -170 moneyline. The line for New Jersey sits at +150 and the oddsmakers have set the Over/Under (O/U) at 7 goals. The odds for betting the total sit at -105 money on the over and -115 for the under.
Losing -5.8 units for moneyline bettors, the Penguins are 6-6 straight up (SU) overall this year. That winning percentage, the second-best in the Metropolitan Division in this young season, is a regression from the 47-35 record that the team managed during last year’s regular season campaign. Out of its 12 regular season matches, six of them have gone under the total, while five have gone over and just one has pushed. This season, the team is 2-4 SU at home.
Pittsburgh’s been able to convert on 25.0 percent of its power play opportunities this year, a mark that’s good enough for 10th-best in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill is rated eighth overall, and it’s successfully killed off 85.3 percent of all penalties.
As a team, Pittsburgh has been whistled for penalties just 3.2 times per game this season. Last year, it posted the mark in the league with 4.0 penalties per game. After serving an average of 9.4 penalty minutes per game a year ago, the team has been forced to stave off opponent power plays for just 6.6 minutes per matchup this season.
With a .890 save percentage and 28.3 saves per game, Matt Murray (four wins, four losses, and one OT loss) has been the principal goalkeeper for the Penguins this season. If the Pens choose to rest him, however, the team may turn to Casey DeSmith (2-4-4 record, .933 save percentage, 2.20 goals against average).
The Pens will continue seeking leadership from Evgeni Malkin and Phil Kessel. Malkin (20 points) has tallied seven goals and 13 assists and has recorded two or more points in six different games this year. Kessel has seven goals and nine assists to his credit and has recorded at least one point in nine games.
On the other hand, New Jersey is 5-6 straight up (SU) and has lost 2.0 units for moneyline bettors thus far. Six of its outings have gone over the total, while five have gone under the total and none have pushed. New Jersey’s 0-4 SU as an away team this season.
New Jersey has scored on 25.5 percent of its power play chances this season, a figure that places it in the top-10 among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked 14th overall and it’s successfully killed off 80.0 percent of all penalties.
New Jersey’s skaters have been called for penalties 4.9 times per game this season, a number that has jumped some from the 3.8 penalties per game given up last year. After serving an average of 9.1 penalty minutes per game a year ago, the team has had to stave off opponent power plays for 11.1 minutes per matchup this season.
Keith Kinkaid (2.67 goals against average and .913 save percentage) has been the primary option in goal for New Jersey. Kinkaid is averaging 27.2 saves per game and owns a 5-5-1 record.
Kyle Palmieri (nine goals, five assists) and Taylor Hall (two goals, 11 assists) have been the top playmakers for New Jersey and will lead the offensive attack for the visiting Devils.
New Jersey Devils vs. Pittsburgh Penguins Free Picks
Free NHL Pick: SU Winner – Penguins, O/U – Under
Betting Trends
- The under has hit in three of Pittsburgh’s last five games.
- The Penguins are 3-2 SU in games where they serve more penalty minutes than their opponent while the Devils are 1-3 SU when they serve more minutes than their opponent.
- After going 2-2 in games decided by a shootout last year, Pittsburgh is off to a 0-2 start in shootouts this season. New Jersey was 5-4 in shootouts last year and has yet to participate in one this time around.
- New Jersey has scored 3.1 goals per game overall this year, but is averaging 2.0 goals per match up over its three-game losing streak.
