It seems that Pittsburgh is finally recovering after a long slump. The team had been struggling on the road, suffering several consecutive defeats, with some heavy losses. The Penguins couldn’t put up a strong fight against Anaheim and Seattle, losing 1-5 and 1-4, respectively. Their defensive line was weak, allowing their opponents to create and convert a large number of dangerous chances. The team managed to play more solidly in their game against San Jose, but due to low offensive efficiency, they still lost 1-2.
However, they broke their losing streak in their final away game, securing a hard-fought victory over Utah in overtime (3-2). Thanks to Karlsson’s goal in the third period, they were able to tie the game and take it into extra time, where Crosby sealed the win. Returning to their home arena, Pittsburgh played against Nashville and finally showed solid defense, winning 2-0. Crosby again stood out, scoring a goal and providing an assist. Goaltender Nedeljkovic was also exceptional, saving all 25 shots to earn the shutout. Despite this, the Penguins’ long slump has caused them to drop to 14th place in the Eastern Conference, now 7 points behind a playoff spot.
Strengths: Experienced players like Crosby have the ability to influence the game, especially in critical moments. Decent faceoff statistics (51.9%) give them an advantage in controlling the puck during most games.
Injuries and Suspensions: Evgeni Malkin will be unable to participate in the upcoming game.
New Jersey has been showing unstable results lately, alternating wins and losses. They started a short two-game road trip with a tough win over Montreal, where they created many dangerous chances but struggled to get past the goalie. Out of 44 shots, only three found the net during regulation, and Montreal managed to equalize, sending the game into overtime, where the Devils finally pulled off a 4-3 victory. It’s hard to single out any player, as several contributed to the result. However, the Devils couldn’t capitalize on this success. In their next game against Philadelphia, they played poorly defensively and lost 2-4. Goaltender Allen struggled, saving just 88% of shots.
On their return home, New Jersey got back on track, taking revenge on Philadelphia with a 5-0 victory. Goaltender Allen redeemed himself with a perfect game, stopping all shots for the shutout. It seemed like this dominant performance would help the Devils regain their confidence, but they struggled again in their next road game against Buffalo, where they allowed three unanswered goals in the first period and ultimately lost 3-4 despite almost making a comeback. The Devils have been struggling to find their best form and have dropped to 5th place in the Eastern Conference.
Strengths: Strong defensive play that limits the number of shots against them (on average, 25 per game). A solid goaltender in Allen, who recently earned a shutout against Philadelphia.
Injuries and Suspensions: Markström will not be available for the upcoming game.
This game is expected to be intense, as both teams face different challenges. Pittsburgh is still looking for consistency in their attack, despite having leaders like Crosby and Karlsson. Meanwhile, New Jersey is more stable defensively but has faced issues with offensive production, especially on the road.
Expected result: New Jersey to win with a low-scoring game (2-1 or 3-2). The Devils should be the favorites due to their defensive strength and overall playstyle, but Pittsburgh has enough experience and leadership to make it a competitive match.
In the upcoming match, New Jersey will once again be playing away, where they have struggled significantly, rarely managing to earn points. In 11 away games, the Devils have secured just two victories. Moreover, the team is clearly not in its best form at the moment. On the other hand, Pittsburgh seems to have found their rhythm and has begun earning points consistently. Given their home advantage, the Penguins are likely to come out on top in this encounter. We’re placing our bet on their victory at an excellent odds of 2.28.
Bookmakers are offering odds of 3.00 for Pittsburgh, 4.55 for a draw, and 2.09 for New Jersey. Total over 5.5 goals is offered for 1.77, total under for 2.14.
Our prediction: Pittsburgh to win at 2.28.
