A pair of teams on winning streaks, the Pittsburgh Penguins and the New Jersey Devils collide at the Prudential Center in a divisional showdown. MSG Plus 2 will air the game, and the action gets going at 7 p.m. ET on Saturday, February 3.
Pittsburgh Penguins at New Jersey Devils Odds
Pittsburgh is 29-24 straight up (SU) and has lost 3.1 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 53 regular season outings, 26 of its games have gone over the total, while 24 have gone under and just two have pushed. The Pens are 10-16 SU as an away team in 2017-18.
Pittsburgh comes into the match up with the first-strongest power-play unit in the NHL, as it’s scored on 27.7 percent of its extra-man opportunities this year. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked ninth overall, and the teams successfully killed off 82.5 percent of its penalties.
For the team as a whole, the Pens have been sent to the penalty box 4.2 times per game overall this season, 4.6 per game over its last five contests total, and 4.2 per game over its last five road outings. The team has been forced to kill penalties 9.0 minutes per contest over their last five road games.
Averaging 25.3 saves per game with a .905 save percentage, Matt Murray (19-14-1) has been the primary option in goal for Pittsburgh this season. Murray played last night, however, so the team could choose to rest him and turn to Tristan Jarry instead (10-8-2 record, .919 save percentage, 2.44 goals against average).
The visiting Penguins have relied on Phil Kessel and Evgeni Malkin this year. Kessel (62 points) has tallied 23 goals and 39 assists, and has recorded two or more points 15 times. Malkin has 28 goals and 31 assists to his name (and has registered at least one point in 33 games).
On the other side of the ice, New Jersey is 26-24 straight up (SU) and has earned 4.3 units for moneyline bettors this year. 26 of its contests have gone over the total, while 23 have gone under and just one has pushed. It’s 14-11 SU at home this season.
The Devils have converted on 20.8 percent of their power play opportunities this season, a mark that’s good enough for 10th-best in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked ninth overall, and it’s successfully killed off 82.6 percent of all penalties.
New Jersey players have been called for penalties 4.0 times per game in total this season, 3.6 per game over their last five games total, and 3.8 per game over their last five home outings. The teams had to defend opponent power plays just 8.4 minutes per game over their last five outings.
Cory Schneider (28.9 saves per game) has been the top choice in goal for the Devils. Schneider has 18 wins, 17 losses, and six overtime losses to his name and has registered a .913 save percentage and 2.79 goals against average this year.
Taylor Hall (18 goals, 32 assists) will lead the attack for the Devils.
Pittsburgh Penguins vs. New Jersey Devils Free Picks
Pick: SU Winner – Devils, O/U – Over
Betting Trends
- Six of New Jersey’s last ten games have been decided by two or more goals. The club is 2-4 overall in those games.
- Pittsburgh has averaged 3.1 goals per game overall this season, but has raised that figure up to 5.3 per match up over their four-game winning streak.
- The Devils are 8-11 when the team serves fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 11-18 in games where they serve fewer than 10 total penalty minutes.
- Pittsburgh is 2-1 in games decided by a shootout this season while New Jersey is 3-4 in shootouts.
- The total has gone under in four of New Jersey’s last five outings.
- New Jersey skaters have averaged 8.2 giveaways over its last five home games, its season average of 7.8 giveaways per game (ranked 7th overall).
- Pittsburgh skaters have averaged 11.0 giveaways over its last five home games, a rise over its season average of 8.5 giveaways per game (ranked 11th in the NHL).
- Pittsburgh skaters have accounted for the fourth-most hits in the league (24.6 per game), but the teams recorded just 20.6 hits over their last five away games.
