The Pittsburgh Penguins find themselves in a do-or-die situation at PPG Paints Arena this Saturday, sitting six points out of the final playoff spot with their postseason hopes hanging by a thread.
While Sidney Crosby's squad enters on a three-game win streak and has found their offensive groove with 13 goals in their last three home games, they'll face a Devils team that has absolutely owned this matchup, going 9-1-0 in their last 10 meetings and already leading this season's series 2-0.
The Devils' league-leading defense (2.52 goals against per game) squares off against the Penguins' struggling blue line (31st in the NHL with 3.56 goals against) as the home team desperately seeks to keep their playoff dreams alive against the away team.
Pittsburgh Penguins vs. New Jersey Devils prediction: who will win?
For tonight's Pittsburgh Penguins vs New Jersey Devils matchup, our predictive model gives the Pens a 67.5% chance of defeating the Devils.
Pre-game probabilities
Pittsburgh Penguins
Moneyline
Win %
67.5%
32.5%
New Jersey Devils
Pittsburgh Penguins: 67.5% win probability
- Recent momentum surge (3 wins in last 5 games, WWWLL)
- Superior offensive output (195 goals scored vs Devils' 201)
- Home ice advantage (15-14-2 home record)
New Jersey Devils: 32.5% win probability
- Struggling road performance (Recent form WWWLL shows inconsistency)
- Defensive vulnerabilities (170 goals against, ranking 8th in conference)
- Lower points total (78 points in 67 games vs Eastern Conference average)
At Sporting Post, our unique prediction model combines insights from top NHL experts. Instead of sifting through hundreds of expert analyses across the web, you can rely on our predictions to understand the market's overall sentiment. We scan trusted sources, analyzing predictions, data, and opinions, and our AI assigns a confidence level to each prediction. We then average these levels to produce an 'expert opinion' win probability—reflecting the collective intelligence of the industry's leading NHL experts..
| Pittsburgh Penguins | New Jersey Devils | |
|---|---|---|
| Moneyline |
Pittsburgh Penguins vs. New Jersey Devils preview
The Devils roll into PPG Paints Arena riding a three-game win streak, but they'll face a desperate Penguins squad that's clinging to fading playoff hopes.
While New Jersey's defense has been rock-solid as the league's second-best unit (allowing just 2.52 goals per game), Pittsburgh's recent offensive surge - including 13 goals in their last three home games - could make this an intriguing matchup.
The Devils' dynamic duo of Jesper Bratt and Jack Hughes has been lighting it up, with Bratt dishing out 57 assists while Hughes has notched 27 goals - but they've been oddly quiet on the road lately.
Sid Crosby's still got it at center for the Pens, leading the team with 72 points, while Rickard Rakell's surprising 30-goal campaign has been one of the few bright spots in Pittsburgh's rocky season.
The Devils have absolutely owned this rivalry lately, going 9-1-0 in their last 10 against Pittsburgh, though the Penguins' recent three-game win streak suggests they might finally be finding their groove.
Keep an eye on Jake Allen between the pipes for New Jersey - he's been solid with a .911 save percentage, which could be crucial against a Penguins team that's been deadly on the power play, converting over 24% of their chances.
The afternoon puck drop at PPG Paints Arena adds another wrinkle to what's shaping up to be a classic Metropolitan Division showdown, with both teams desperate for points for very different reasons - New Jersey looking to solidify their playoff position while Pittsburgh's trying to avoid missing the postseason.
Pittsburgh Penguins vs. New Jersey Devils form
Pittsburgh Penguins vs. New Jersey Devils head to head
Pittsburgh Penguins
17%
New Jersey Devils
83%
Feb 5, 2025
Pittsburgh Penguins
2 : 3
New Jersey Devils
Dec 22, 2024
New Jersey Devils
3 : 0
Pittsburgh Penguins
Apr 2, 2024
New Jersey Devils
3 : 6
Pittsburgh Penguins
Mar 19, 2024
New Jersey Devils
5 : 2
Pittsburgh Penguins
Nov 17, 2023
Pittsburgh Penguins
2 : 5
New Jersey Devils
Apr 4, 2023
New Jersey Devils
5 : 1
Pittsburgh Penguins
