The Pittsburgh Penguins are set to miss the NHL playoffs for the third consecutive season after stringing together a 16 season streak of postseason appearances. Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang are all edging closer to retirement, and the longtime trio faces a challenging task when they take a trip to New Jersey.
The Devils have already secured a playoff spot and will play the Carolina Hurricanes in the first round. It would take a mathematical miracle for the Devils to earn home ice, so they have very little to play for at this stage of the season. However, New Jersey has looked vulnerable in recent weeks, and they will be desperate to regain momentum with the playoffs right around the corner.
Can a trio of future Hall of Famers put a dent in New Jersey’s Stanley Cup aspirations, or will the Devils’ strong top six overpower Crosby and company en route to a dominant home victory? Here are your expert NHL predictions for the Penguins vs Devils matchup.
Matchup: Penguins vs Devils Overview
- Teams: Pittsburgh Penguins at New Jersey Devils
- Date: Friday, April 11th, 2025
- Time: Puck drop is at 7:00 PM EST
- Venue: Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey
Win Probabilities:
The NHL win probabilities have given the New Jersey Devils a 63.38% chance to win this NHL game. They have been the better team all season, and their dominance on home ice has given them a sizable advantage. However, Sidney Crosby could be playing one of his last games in a Penguins uniform, and Pittsburgh still has a 36.62% chance of pulling off a gutsy victory, according to the NHL win probabilities.
Projected Final Score:
The projected final score has been calculated using expert NHL predictions and insights from recent NHL games. It is the New Jersey Devils 4-2 Pittsburgh Penguins.
Penguins vs Devils Odds
The NHL odds have given the New Jersey Devils the edge in this matchup. The Pittsburgh Penguins are already looking ahead to next season, and there is no reason to expect much of a fight in New Jersey against a red-hot Devils team. New Jersey is locked into the third seed in the Metropolitan Division but will want to keep their momentum alive heading into the playoffs. These two teams both struggle at stopping the puck, and the NHL odds for the total goals imply a high-scoring contest on Friday night.
Expert Prediction: Who Wins?
Why the Pittsburgh Penguins Could Win
The Pittsburgh Penguins may be free-falling down the NHL standings, but their quality on offense ensures they are always capable of pulling off an upset. The Penguins have gone 4-6 in their last 10 games, while the Devils have gone 5-5, and it is not as if the Devils have a stellar home record. New Jersey has gone 22-18 on the road compared to 19-19 at home, so home ice advantage will not have a significant role to play in this matchup.
The Penguins will undoubtedly be underdogs heading into this matchup, but they could be an excellent puck line or even moneyline pick if they play up to their potential. #87 Sidney Crosby has a team-high 87 points this season, but the emergence of other Pittsburgh stars is what has filled this fan base with optimism. Rickard Rakell has been excellent for the Penguins with 34 goals, and Bryan Rust has had his best season in a Penguins uniform with 61 points in 68 games. Pittsburgh will need to outscore their defensive lapses, but this is undoubtedly an NHL game they could find a way to win.
Why the New Jersey Devils Could Win
The New Jersey Devils have little to play for at this stage of the season, but they will still want to gather momentum heading into the playoffs. They are set to face off against a tough Hurricanes team in the first round, and the Penguins will provide an excellent opportunity to fix some of their issues at home.
The Devils are Jesper Bratt and Jack Hughes, who have 88 and 70 points, respectively. Hughes is out for the rest of the season after suffering a shoulder injury that required surgery, leaving the offensive workload firmly on Bratt’s shoulders. Bratt is a better provider than he is a pure goal scorer, and there is still no shortage of talent surrounding him in New Jersey. His ability to thread the needle with his passes at just 26 years old makes him the best asset in New Jersey, and there is no doubt he will be expected to continue that form into the playoffs. Pittsburgh is vulnerable on defense, and the Devils will look to score early and often against whichever out-of-form goaltender is in the crease for the Penguins.
How to Make Pittsburgh Penguins vs New Jersey Devils Picks
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