The Pittsburgh Penguins (38-29-10) visit the New Jersey Devils (48-21-8) Tuesday. Puck drop from Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET (ESPN+). Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Penguins vs. Devils odds, and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
The Penguins doubled up the Philadelphia Flyers 4-2 last time out on Sunday, keeping their playoff hopes alive. Pittsburgh has 86 points with 9 regular-season games remaining, just a single point ahead of the Florida Panthers for the final postseason spot in the Eastern Conference.
The Devils are in 2nd place, 3 points off the pace in the Metropolitan Division behind the Carolina Hurricanes, and 3 points ahead of the New York Rangers. Carolina also has a game in hand.
New Jersey was whitewashed by the Winnipeg Jets on the road Sunday, falling 6-1, and it is just 4-5-2 in the last 11 games, grabbing just 10 out of a possible 22 points during the stretch.
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Penguins at Devils odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Monday at 11:12 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Penguins +130 (bet $100 to win $130) | Devils -155 (bet $155 to win $100)
- Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Penguins +1.5 (-190) | Devils -1.5 (+155)
- Over/Under (O/U): 6.5 (O: -125 | U: +105)
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Penguins at Devils projected goalies
Tristan Jarry (22-11-6, 2.93 GAA, .909 SV%, 2 SO) vs. Vitek Vanecek (30-11-4, 2.52 GAA, .908 SV%, 3 SO)
Jarry turned aside 31 of the 35 shots he faced last time out against the Boston Bruins Saturday in a tough 4-3 loss. He has allowed just 8 total goals on 114 shots in the last 4 outings, good for a .930 SV%.
Vanecek was in the crease for Sunday’s loss in Winnipeg, yielding 4 goals on 21 shots before he was pulled after 2 periods in the 6-1 loss. It was a rare poor outing, as he had allowed just 10 total goals on his last 131 shots in the previous 4 starts and 5 appearances.
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Penguins at Devils picks and predictions
Prediction
Penguins 4, Devils 3
Moneyline
The PENGUINS (+130) are in desperation mode, as every point counts lately. They’re trying to hold off a charge from the Panthers. In addition, if Pittsburgh is able to leapfrog the New York Islanders, currently a point ahead with the Pens holding a game in hand, it can avoid the Boston Bruins (125 points) in the 1st-round of the playoffs.
While New Jersey has 104 points overall, it is a sub-.500 team in the last 11 games. The Devils are 9-1 in the last 10 games inside the Metropolitan Division, but just 1-5 in the last 6 when working on a day of rest.
While the Pens are just 1-5 in the last 6 road games, and 0-4 in the last 4 meetings with the Devils, Pittsburgh has won 5 of the last 6 trips to Jersey.
Puck line/Against the spread
The Penguins +1.5 (-190) are just a little too expensive if you require insurance, and cannot play them straight up. Pittsburgh will cost you nearly 2 times your potential return, and that’s not a recommended play.
PASS.
Over/Under
OVER 6.5 (-125) is the lean here, based mostly on the shaky play of Vanecek last time out.
The Over is 4-1-1 in the last 6 games overall for the Devils, while going 3-1-1 in the last 5 games inside the Eastern Conference.
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