Pittsburgh Penguins vs New Jersey Devils Picks and Predictions February 4th 2025

Pittsburgh Penguins vs New Jersey Devils February 4th 2025

Making on a bet on this NHL game featuring the Devils versus the Penguins? The puck drops at 7:00 ET, and you can watch it all unfold on ESPN+. The game will be played at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA. The Devils are favored by -1.5 in this Metropolitan division showdown. The game’s over/under is currently at 6 goals.

New Jersey vs. Pittsburgh Key Information

• Teams: Devils at Penguins
• Where: PPG Paints Arena Pittsburgh
• Date: Tuesday, February 4th
• Betting Odds NJ -150 | PIT +128 O/U 6

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The Devils Can Win If…

New Jersey’s 3-0 loss to the Flames dropped their record to 29-19-6. The Devils were favored on the puck line, and the total was set at 6.5 goals, but the combined score reached only 3.

All three goals came in the third period, with the Devils failing to find the net. They managed 22 shots on goal and committed 19 giveaways in the loss.

New Jersey’s offense struggled in their 3-0 loss to Calgary, managing 22 shots on goal but failing to find the back of the net. The Devils were shut out for the first time this season and recorded 19 giveaways.

New Jersey couldn’t capitalize on any power play opportunities and were held scoreless in all three periods, including a 0-0 tie heading into the third.

Defensively, the Devils held the Flames scoreless through the first two periods, but they gave up three goals in the third, including an empty-netter. Jacob Markstrom made 29 saves with a 93.5% save percentage. The Devils’ defense also recorded 5 takeaways and 22 hits.

• Across New Jersey’s last three regular season games, their record sits at 1-2. Their record against the puck line in this stretch is 1-2 to go along with an over-under mark of 2-1.
• Over their last ten regular season games, the Devils have gone 4-6 straight up. Their record vs the puck line sits at 2-8 in these matchups, while posting a 5-5 over-under mark.

The Penguins Can Win If…

The Penguins moved closer to .500 with a 3-1 road win over the Canadiens, bringing their record to 22-24-8. Pittsburgh covered the puck line as -1.5 goal favorites, with the total set at 6.5 goals, and the combined 4 goals fell short of the over.

Sidney Crosby led the way with two goals, while Blake Lizotte added an empty-netter to seal the win. The Penguins kept the Canadiens off the board until the third period, when Christian Dvorak scored at 14:28.

Sidney Crosby led the Penguins’ offense with two goals in their 3-1 win over the Canadiens. He scored his fourth goal of the season early in the first period and added a fifth on a power play in the second. Blake Lizotte netted his second goal of the year on an empty net with 45 seconds remaining.

Pittsburgh fired 24 shots on goal but also had 14 giveaways. Lars Eller picked up his third assist on Lizotte’s empty-netter, while Kris Letang and Erik Karlsson were credited with assists on Crosby’s power-play goal, giving Karlsson his seventh assist of the season.

Defensively, the Penguins will look to build on their performance in their previous game, where they gave up just one goal to the Canadiens. Alex Nedeljkovic made 25 saves, posting a 96.2% save percentage. The Penguins’ defense also recorded 5 takeaways and 19 hits.

• The Penguins have posted a 2-1 record in their previous three games. Their strong play has also resulted in an puck line mark of 2-1 (last 3). They had an over/under mark of 0-3 in those same games.
• Pittsburgh has put together a record of 4-6 in their last ten games (regular season). Their record vs the puck line sits at 4-6 in these matchups, while posting a 3-5-2 over-under mark.

The Lean

For a moneyline bet, I’m backing the Penguins to secure a victory over the Devils at home. With the moneyline currently set at +128, I’m locking in my bet on the Penguins straight-up.

Our projections have the Penguins pulling out a win as the underdog. But if you’re not as bullish as we are on the Penguins, we’d recommend at least getting a bet down on them to cover the puck line.

If you’re looking at the over/under line set at 6 goals, our prediction is that this game will exceed that mark, and we strongly advise placing a bet on the over.

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Pittsburgh Aims to Keep Momentum Rolling Against Injury-Plagued New Jersey

The Pittsburgh Penguins look to build on their recent momentum as they host the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday in a pivotal Metropolitan Division matchup. Pittsburgh enters the contest riding a modest two-game winning streak, while New Jersey has struggled with injuries and inconsistency, posting a 4-4-2 record in their last 10 games.

With seven crucial divisional matchups ahead, the Penguins are in desperate need of points to stay in the Eastern Conference playoff race.

Penguins Finding Offensive Rhythm

Before their recent two-game win streak, the Penguins were struggling offensively, managing just one goal in three consecutive games. However, they’ve rebounded by scoring three goals in each of their last two victories, showing signs of an improved attack.

A key catalyst in Pittsburgh’s resurgence has been captain Sidney Crosby, who has been on fire with a four-game goal streak. Crosby also added an assist in Pittsburgh’s 3-0 win over the Nashville Predators on Saturday, bringing his recent totals to four goals and two assists over that span.

The Penguins’ captain credited his team’s success to better puck movement and improved execution from the defensemen, which allowed for smoother transitions and more sustained offensive pressure.

“I thought our ‘D’ did a really good job getting it to the forwards,” Crosby said. “If they couldn’t make the pass, they skated it themselves or got it deep. It was simple, but not always easy to execute consistently. Our forwards were winning battles, which was a big part of it.”

Pittsburgh is hoping to extend their winning streak for the first time since mid-December, as they are 7-10-3 since their last winning streak ended.

Devils Battling Injuries and Inconsistency

The New Jersey Devils come into the game having lost two of their last three, including a 4-3 defeat to the Buffalo Sabres on Sunday. A slow start proved costly, as New Jersey fell behind 3-0 in the first period and 4-1 by the second, making their third-period rally too little, too late.

Forward Paul Cotter, who scored twice in the loss, admitted that poor early play set them back.

“We put ourselves in that position early,” Cotter said. “Normally when a team gets a lead like that, it’s pretty hard to come back. Our start needs to be a lot better.”

The Devils are currently without two key players:

• Captain Nico Hischier (upper-body injury) is week-to-week after getting hurt on January 25.
• Starting goaltender Jacob Markstrom (lower-body injury) is out 4-6 weeks since his January 22 injury.

Despite these setbacks, Jack Hughes has stepped up, recording points in five consecutive games (three goals, three assists). Meanwhile, Jake Allen has taken over in goal, posting a 2-2 record with a 2.72 goals-against average since taking over the crease.

Head-to-Head: Devils Have Owned the Penguins

Despite Pittsburgh’s recent improvement, New Jersey has dominated this rivalry, winning eight of the past nine meetings. The Devils have also outscored the Penguins 38-17 in those games, a stark reminder of their recent edge.

Pittsburgh will need to reverse this trend if they hope to capitalize on their improved form and gain ground in the playoff race.

A Crucial Seven-Game Stretch for Pittsburgh

Tuesday’s game marks the first of seven consecutive division matchups for the Penguins, a stretch that could define their season.

Currently sitting seven points behind the Eastern Conference’s final wild-card spot, Pittsburgh must take advantage of this upcoming schedule to stay in the race.

Their next six games include:

• Three matchups against the Philadelphia Flyers
• Two games against the New York Rangers
• A showdown with the Washington Capitals

With every point crucial, the Penguins must find consistency against divisional rivals, starting with New Jersey.

Final Thoughts: Playoff Implications Loom Large

For the Penguins, a win would provide a much-needed boost as they enter a season-defining stretch of games. Their offense is showing signs of life, and Crosby continues to lead by example. However, Pittsburgh must stay disciplined, start strong, and maintain offensive pressure to overcome their struggles against the Devils.

For the Devils, injuries have derailed their momentum, but they’ve still had Pittsburgh’s number in recent years. If Hughes and Allen can step up, and if New Jersey avoids another slow start, they have a strong chance to extend their dominance over the Penguins.

With both teams fighting for position in a tight Eastern Conference race, expect an intense, playoff-like atmosphere on Tuesday night.