New Jersey Devils vs Pittsburgh Penguins - NHL Prediction & Betting Tips - AI Analysis & Odds (Apr 9, 2026)

New Jersey Devils

2 - 5

Pittsburgh Penguins

NHL·Prudential Center

Team	P1	P2	P3	Total
New Jersey DevilsDevils	0	2	0	2
Pittsburgh PenguinsPenguins	1	2	2	5

AI vs Analyst Prediction

Predicto AI

Correct

Pittsburgh Penguins to win

@1.98

View Reasoning

Pittsburgh has a solid record against New Jersey historically, winning 7 out of their last 10 encounters. Additionally, the Penguins are currently in better form overall, with more wins and fewer goals against.

Human Analyst

Incorrect

New Jersey Devils to win

@1.96

View Reasoning

The Devils have been performing well at home, winning 3 out of their last 5 games, while the Penguins are struggling with consistency. Given the historical head-to-head advantage for the Devils and the potential for a market inefficiency due to the Penguins' higher team standing, this spot favors the home team as a contrarian bet.

Split call — see both takes above

Team Statistics

Devilsper gamePenguins

40-36-2 · 83 pts40-32-6 · 96 pts

51%

Win Rate

51%

-25

Goal Diff

+43

2.4

Avg Goals For

2.8

2.7

Avg Goals Against

2.2

78 GPTotal Goals: 189 · 21878 GP

Eastern Conference

#	Team	GP	W	L	OTL	PTS	GF	GA	Form
1	Carolina Hurricanes	82	39	22	7	113	296	240	-
2	Buffalo Sabres	82	42	23	9	109	288	241	-
3	Tampa Bay Lightning	82	40	26	6	106	290	231	-
4	Montreal Canadiens	82	34	24	10	106	283	256	-
5	Boston Bruins	82	33	27	10	100	272	250	-
6	Ottawa Senators	82	38	27	11	99	278	246	-
7	Pittsburgh Penguins	82	34	25	16	98	293	268	-
8	Philadelphia Flyers	82	27	27	12	98	250	243	-
9	Washington Capitals	82	37	30	9	95	263	244	-
10	Detroit Red Wings	82	30	31	10	92	241	258	-
11	Columbus Blue Jackets	82	28	30	12	92	253	253	-
12	New York Islanders	82	29	34	5	91	233	241	-
13	New Jersey Devils	82	29	37	3	87	230	254	-
14	Florida Panthers	82	32	38	4	84	251	276	-
15	Toronto Maple Leafs	82	23	36	14	78	253	299	-
16	New York Rangers	82	25	39	9	77	238	250	-

Western Conference

#	Team	GP	W	L	OTL	PTS	GF	GA	Form
1	Colorado Avalanche	82	48	16	11	121	302	203	-
2	Dallas Stars	82	38	20	12	112	279	226	-
3	Minnesota Wild	82	31	24	12	104	272	240	-
4	Vegas Golden Knights	82	30	26	17	95	265	250	-
5	Edmonton Oilers	82	32	30	11	93	282	269	-
6	Utah Mammoth	82	33	33	6	92	268	240	-
7	Anaheim Ducks	82	26	33	6	92	273	288	-
8	Los Angeles Kings	82	22	27	20	90	225	247	-
9	San Jose Sharks	82	27	35	8	86	251	292	-
10	St. Louis Blues	82	33	33	12	86	231	258	-
11	Nashville Predators	82	28	34	10	86	247	269	-
12	Winnipeg Jets	82	28	35	12	82	231	260	-
13	Seattle Kraken	82	26	37	11	79	226	263	-
14	Calgary Flames	82	27	39	9	77	212	259	-
15	Chicago Blackhawks	82	22	39	14	72	213	275	-
16	Vancouver Canucks	82	15	49	8	58	216	316	-

Standings & Form

The New Jersey Devils sit 20th in the NHL standings with 83 points from 77 games, holding a 40-35-2 record. Their recent form is mixed, with a 3-2 record in the last five games (WWLWL). Meanwhile, the Pittsburgh Penguins are firmly in playoff contention, ranked 8th with 96 points over 78 games, boasting a 40-32-6 record and coming off a 4-1 run in their last five (WWLWW). This contrast in league position sets the stage for a challenging matchup at the Devils' home rink.

Scoring & Defense

Offensively, the Penguins have the edge with 218 goals scored compared to New Jersey’s 188. Defensively, Pittsburgh has also been more reliable, conceding 175 goals to the Devils’ 209. The Devils’ negative goal differential points to defensive vulnerabilities that the Penguins will aim to exploit. Both teams have shown resilience in overtime, with New Jersey holding 2 OT losses and Pittsburgh 6, highlighting tight contests that often come down to defensive execution.

Game Prediction

Despite the Penguins’ superior standings and scoring output, the expert pick leans towards a New Jersey Devils victory at 2.50 odds. This could reflect confidence in the Devils’ ability to capitalize on home ice, where their defensive structure might contain Pittsburgh’s attack. Bettors may find value considering New Jersey’s recent wins and potential for a tighter defensive game to neutralize the Penguins' offensive threats.

Martin Anderson

Human analyst

Professional betting analyst with 10+ years of experience in sports data analytics and statistics. Featured on The Athletic, 433, and ESPN. Currently maintaining a 70% win rate this season across NHL, SHL, and Liiga markets. See the public track record.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What's your prediction for this game?

The prediction for the New Jersey Devils vs Pittsburgh Penguins leans towards a Devils win at 2.50 odds. Despite Pittsburgh holding a higher standing (#8 with 96 points) compared to New Jersey (#20 with 83 points), the Devils have shown competitive form (WWLWL) and a less favorable goal differential (188 GF, 209 GA) compared to the Penguins' strong +43 differential (218 GF, 175 GA). With no head-to-head history this season, the Devils' recent resilience may give them an edge in this matchup.

Which team has better recent form?

The New Jersey Devils enter this game with a mixed form of WWLWL, holding a 40-35-2 record and 83 points, placing them 20th in the NHL. Meanwhile, the Pittsburgh Penguins have a stronger recent form of WWLWW, with a 40-32-6 record and 96 points, ranking 8th. This contrast highlights Pittsburgh's more consistent performance and higher league standing compared to New Jersey's mid-to-lower table position.

What are the best betting opportunities?

Considering the goal totals, the New Jersey Devils have scored 188 goals and conceded 209, while the Pittsburgh Penguins have a stronger offensive and defensive record with 218 goals for and 175 against. This suggests that betting on over goals could be viable given the Devils' leaky defense and Penguins' scoring ability. Additionally, with no previous head-to-head games this season, markets like puck line and total goals offer interesting opportunities.

How do these teams match up historically?

There are no head-to-head games recorded yet this season between the New Jersey Devils and Pittsburgh Penguins, with both teams standing at 0 wins in their direct encounters. This lack of recent history adds an element of unpredictability to their matchup on April 9, 2026.

What are the key line matchups?

Key matchups in the New Jersey Devils vs Pittsburgh Penguins game will revolve around offensive firepower versus defensive resilience. The Devils average roughly 2.44 goals per game (188 GF/77 GP) but concede 2.71 goals per game (209 GA/77 GP), whereas the Penguins score 2.79 goals per game (218 GF/78 GP) and allow only 2.24 (175 GA/78 GP). Pittsburgh’s stronger defense and better recent form suggest they can challenge the Devils’ attack effectively.

Should I bet on the favorite or underdog?

The betting value in the New Jersey Devils vs Pittsburgh Penguins matchup lies in the puck line and total goals markets. Given the Penguins' superior goal differential and form, taking them on the puck line might offer good value despite the expert pick favoring the Devils. Additionally, the combined goals for and against rates suggest a potentially high-scoring game, making the over on total goals another attractive betting option.