Devils vs Penguins

New Jersey enters Pittsburgh riding a four-game losing streak, while the Penguins have taken four of their last six but only just halted a brief skid with a strong road win in Buffalo, setting up a classic buy-low/sell-high spot on the underdog Devils at 138. With the Devils still missing Luke Hughes and depth wingers Zack MacEwen and Stefan Noesen, their blue line remains thinner than ideal, but Pittsburgh is dealing with arguably bigger blows in the absence of Kris Letang and newly sidelined Sidney Crosby, which forces more heavy lifting onto Evgeni Malkin and the middle six. Jack Hughes has historically produced well against the Penguins and already burned them in recent trips to PPG Paints Arena, and combined with Jesper Bratt’s play-driving and the Devils’ strong 5-on-5 shot share, that gives New Jersey enough offensive ceiling to punish a Penguins team whose goaltending tandem has been good but hardly airtight. With Pittsburgh comfortably in a playoff spot and New Jersey desperate for points in a tight Eastern wild-card chase after more than 50 games, the situational urgency tilts toward the road side and makes the plus money attractive even if the underlying defensive numbers still favor the Penguins. I’m taking New Jersey on the moneyline at 138 with a B grade, acknowledging the volatility in the Devils’ defensive structure but liking the price relative to the injury-adjusted true odds. Odds and availability are subject to change. This bet was made at 26/02/2026 09:49

Given that New Jersey’s recent slide has featured a porous defensive stretch and Pittsburgh’s last handful of games have regularly pushed past six total goals, this matchup sets up as another high-event evening, especially with both teams missing top-four defensemen and the Penguins leaning on depth scoring in Crosby’s absence. Luke Hughes and Kris Letang being out removes two of the best puck movers but also two key defenders from the breakout and penalty kill, often leading to more broken plays, odd-man rushes, and dangerous looks, and the Devils have already allowed well over three goals per game on the season while still icing a forward group that can trade chances. Jack Hughes’ track record of generating offense against Pittsburgh, combined with Evgeni Malkin’s expanded role and the Penguins’ recent habit of turning home games into track meets, points toward sustained pressure at both ends rather than the tight, low-scoring style we saw in their November shootout meeting. With the total sitting at 6 and the Over priced at -105, I like the Over side at a B+ grade, expecting enough scoring talent and defensive attrition on both benches to push this past the number more often than the line implies. Odds and availability are subject to change. This bet was made at 26/02/2026 09:49

While I like New Jersey to pull the upset outright, the puckline value tilts even more toward the visitors given how often recent meetings between these teams have been decided by a single goal and how many of Pittsburgh’s wins this season have come in tighter margins when facing competent offensive teams. The Devils may be mired in a four-game losing streak and still down Luke Hughes plus some forward depth, but their top-six built around Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier, Timo Meier and Jesper Bratt has consistently generated enough offense to keep them within striking distance even on off nights, and their recent shootout win and other one-goal battles against the Penguins underline that profile. On the other side, the Penguins are navigating both Kris Letang’s absence and Crosby’s current injury, which makes it harder for them to drive play to the degree usually required to clear a -1.5 number comfortably, even if their overall form and playoff position remain stronger than New Jersey’s. In a game with playoff stakes for both clubs and a total I expect to land close to the number more often than not, taking the Devils at +1.5 on the puckline at -182 earns a B- grade as a more conservative way to back New Jersey’s ability to keep this to a one-goal contest. Odds and availability are subject to change. This bet was made at 26/02/2026 09:49