Two of the league’s highest volume shooting teams are set to meet at PPG Paints Arena on Saturday, as the Pittsburgh Penguins (-110) welcome the New Jersey Devils (-110). The total is 6.5 (O: -110, U: -110)New Jersey (35-14-5) is wrapping up a four-game road trip coming off a 4-2 loss against the Blues on Thursday.
The Devils committed four penalties in the game, conceding one power play goal. Dawson Mercer and Erik Haula each scored once for the Devils. MacKenzie Blackwood only had 31 saves on 35 shots against (.885%) in the loss.
Pittsburgh (27-18-9) is playing the second of a back-to-back after suffering a 5-4 loss against the Islanders yesterday. Rickard Rakell was the leading goal scorer for the Penguins, netting twice. Casey DeSmith saved only 23 of 28 shots against (.821%) in the loss.
HEAD TO HEAD
The Devils have won both games between the teams this season, including a 2-1 (OT) victory in their most recent meeting in January, their third straight win against Pittsburgh.
Jack Hughes and Dougie Hamilton each had two points (1G 1A) to lead New Jersey. Sidney Crosby scored Pittsburgh’s only goal. Vitek Vanecek got the win, saving 25 of 26 shots (.961%).
FACING OFF
New Jersey is averaging 3.43 goals per game for the season, seventh in the NHL, and they are taking on a Penguins team that is allowing 3.11 goals a game (17th). Meanwhile, Pittsburgh has found the net 3.24 times a game on average, 14th in the league, and the Devils are holding opponents to 2.65 goals per game (4th).
Both teams average more shots per game than most teams in the league. New Jersey ranks No. 4 with 34.1 shots, while Pittsburgh’s 33.4 average ranks fifth.
When it comes to stopping shots, the Devils have been more successful with a team save percentage of .912% (11th), while the Penguins have stopped .912% of shots as a team (14th).
The Penguins’ 21.51% power play percentage ranks 16th in the league, while the Devils are 21st with a conversion rate of 20.25%. In terms of defending power plays, New Jersey has the league’s 13th-ranked PK% at 80.61%, while Pittsburgh is 14th at 80.46%.
TOP PERFORMERS:
With 67 points this season, ninth-most in the NHL, Hughes is the top skater for the Devils. He is among the league leaders with 35 goals (4th) and has added 32 assists. In the net, Vanecek (23-5-3) is New Jersey’s top goaltender.
He has a 2.31 GAA and a .916% save percentage.Crosby leads the Penguins in scoring with 67 points. He has 25 goals and 42 assists in 54 games. Tristan Jarry (16-5-5) has the best goals against average for Pittsburgh at 2.65. He has a save percentage of .921%.
HOME AND AWAY
New Jersey is 20-4-3 on the road this season. Pittsburgh is 15-6-4 at home this season. Meanwhile, the Penguins are 2-8 without a day off and 0-7 playing with a rest disadvantage. The Devils are 2-3 with a rest advantage.
SportsTips’ NHL Pick:
Pittsburgh Penguins (+110)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
