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The Pittsburgh Penguins head to Prudential Center on Thursday night with a chance to lock up a playoff berth, and that gives this game a little more weight than a standard April matchup. Pittsburgh is 40-22-16 and sitting second in the Metropolitan Division, while New Jersey is 40-35-3 and already on the wrong side of the playoff line. Puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m. ET on ESPN+, and the urgency is much clearer on the Pittsburgh side.
The recent form points that way too. The Penguins have won four of their last five and just beat Florida 5-2 after dropping nine on the Panthers the night before. New Jersey, meanwhile, is coming off a 5-1 loss to Philadelphia that officially killed off its postseason hopes, even if the Devils had been playing better hockey before that stumble. This is one of those spots where one team is pushing for something tangible and the other is trying not to limp to the finish.
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Pittsburgh Penguins vs New Jersey Devils Odds
These are the current betting lines for this matchup, and bettors should always monitor the latest NHL odds before puck drop in case goalie news or late lineup changes shift the market.
| Team | Moneyline | Puck Line | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh Penguins | -111 | -1.5 (+216) | O 6.5 (-109) |
| New Jersey Devils | -108 | +1.5 (-276) | U 6.5 (-112) |
Pittsburgh Penguins Betting Form
Pittsburgh is in one of those stretches where the offense can make almost any price playable. The Penguins are averaging 3.55 goals per game, and the recent scoring burst has been ridiculous even by their standards. Sidney Crosby is still driving the engine, Rickard Rakell is on a real heater with goals in five straight, and the power play continues to matter because Pittsburgh is converting at nearly 25 percent on the season. The Pittsburgh Penguins stats and results page lines up with what the recent box scores are showing.
The bigger handicap question is whether the Penguins can keep defending well enough to support that offense on the road. They have been better lately, and this matchup helps because New Jersey has not consistently turned its shot volume into efficient scoring. Keep an eye on the Pittsburgh Penguins injury report before puck drop. Stuart Skinner has been traveling with the team after recovering from a facial injury, while Kevin Hayes is day-to-day and a few depth pieces remain out.
New Jersey Devils Betting Form
New Jersey is a little harder to pin down than the standings suggest. The Devils have been eliminated, yes, but they were 8-4-1 in their previous 13 before the ugly loss to Philadelphia, and they are still generating chances at a healthy rate. Jack Hughes remains the focal point, Timo Meier still brings physical finish, and there is enough talent here to keep a game uncomfortable if Pittsburgh gets loose. The New Jersey Devils schedule and stats page shows a team that shoots enough to stay live, even if the actual scoring has been inconsistent.
The issue is finishing and defensive stability. Jacob Markstrom has had good nights, but the recent loss to the Flyers was another reminder that New Jersey can unravel quickly once mistakes start stacking up. The Devils are also missing some depth on the back end, and that is not ideal against a Pittsburgh team rolling four lines with confidence right now. Monitor the New Jersey Devils injury report as well, especially with Brett Pesce, Stefan Noesen, and other depth pieces out.
Pittsburgh Penguins vs New Jersey Devils Matchup Breakdown
This matchup starts with the Penguins’ offense against the Devils’ inconsistency in net and coverage. Pittsburgh has scored 20 goals in its last four games, which is not sustainable forever, but it does tell you how dangerous this group looks when Crosby and Rakell get rolling and the supporting cast chips in. New Jersey can fire pucks, sure, yet the Devils have not been nearly as efficient in converting those chances into actual scoreboard pressure. That is the first edge for Pittsburgh.
The other edge is urgency. Pittsburgh can clinch a playoff berth with a win, and that matters in April. New Jersey’s motivation is different now. It is more about pride and evaluation than real stakes. Sometimes that makes a team dangerous for a night, but more often it means the opponent with something concrete to play for gets the sharper start and the cleaner 60-minute effort. A more process-based NHL betting guide usually points toward weighting that kind of situational angle more heavily late in the season.
The total is also interesting because both teams have enough offensive talent to get this past 6.5, and Pittsburgh has gone over in three straight. New Jersey shoots a lot and does not defend cleanly enough to make the under especially appealing. Unless both goalies steal the game, this one has a decent path to 4-3 territory.
Pittsburgh Penguins vs New Jersey Devils Predictions and Best Bets
My first lean is Pittsburgh on the moneyline. The number is basically a pick’em, and in a near-even market I would rather back the team with the better form, the better recent scoring profile, and the clearer motivation. The Penguins are simply playing better hockey right now, and they have already taken two wins and an overtime loss from New Jersey in the season series.
I also lean over 6.5. Pittsburgh is creating too much offense at the moment to ignore, and New Jersey still has enough skill to contribute even in a loss. The Devils’ shot generation keeps them in that conversation, and their defensive slippage makes it easier for opponents to do damage. I would not go overboard with the total because a motivated Pittsburgh team could choose a more controlled road script, but I still think the over is the better side of that number.
If you want a secondary look, Pittsburgh in regulation is worth considering depending on price. Still, the safer and cleaner angle is the standard moneyline because the Devils have enough offense to drag this into extra time if the game gets loose late. If you want a broader slate comparison before betting it, the latest NHL previews can help place this number against the rest of Thursday’s board.
Best Bet: Pittsburgh Penguins moneyline (-111).
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NHL Picks and Handicappers on ScoresAndStats
Late-season NHL betting is rarely just about who has the better roster. It is about who still has something to play for, who is healthier, and whether the market is accounting for both. That is why checking today’s NHL picks can be helpful before you lock in a side on a crowded Thursday card.
It also helps to compare different betting styles instead of following one opinion blindly. The top sports handicappers page and the handicapper leaderboard make it easier to sort by long-term performance, while premium NHL picks can be useful if you want a stronger position on the late-season board.
