Devils vs Penguins Odds, Projected Starting Goalies and NHL Best Bet for Saturday
- The Penguins hosts the Devils in NHL action on Saturday, October 30th
- Sidney Crosby could make his season debut for Pittsburgh
- Read below for the odds, analysis and an NHL betting prediction
Sidney Crosby could make his season debut when the Pittsburgh Penguins (3-2-2) host the New Jersey Devils (3-2-0) on Saturday, October 30th. Crosby is a game-time decision for the 7 pm ET puck drop at PPG Paints Arena.
The Penguins are listed as -145 home favorites over the Devils on the NHL betting line. Pittsburgh has won five straight games against New Jersey.
Let’s take a look at the Devils vs Penguins odds as we provide you with our best bet for the game.
Devils vs Penguins Odds
| Game Time | Team | Puck Line | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 PM ET | New Jersey Devils | +1.5 (-195) | O 6 (-105) | +125 |
| October 30th, 2021 | Pittsburgh Penguins | -1.5 (+165) | U 6 (-115) | -145 |
Odds as of October 29th DraftKings.
Crosby Return Could Spark Pens
Pittsburgh captain Sidney Crosby is listed as a game-time decision against the Devils on Saturday. Crosby, who has not played this season after having wrist surgery Sept. 8, participated in Friday’s practice. Jeff Carter is also a game-time decision, while Evgeni Malkin (knee), Bryan Rust (lower body) and Kris Letang (COVID) are out.
Sidney Crosby a “game time decision” tomorrow. That probably means he will play.
— Josh Yohe (@JoshYohe_PGH) October 29, 2021
The Penguins have gone 3-2-2 without Crosby to begin the season. They’ve lost back-to-back games against Tampa Bay and Calgary after opening the season with a five-game point streak. Pittsburgh’s defense is a concern, as they’ve been outscored 9-1 over their past two games. The positive is the offense generated a combined 74 shots in those games.
Devils vs Penguins Recent Results
| Date | Home-Away | Money Line | Puck Line | Over/Under |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 04/22/2021 | PIT 4 – NJ 2 | PIT | PIT | Push |
| 04/21/2021 | PIT 5 – NJ 1 | PIT | PIT | Under |
| 04/20/2021 | PIT 7 – NJ 6 | PIT | NJ | Over |
| 04/11/2021 | NJ 2 – PIT 5 | PIT | PIT | Over |
| 04/09/2021 | NJ 4 – PIT 6 | PIT | PIT | Over |
Pittsburgh has had New Jersey’s number of late, winning five straight games against the Devils and outscoring them 27-15. Pittsburgh also tends to perform well on weekends, posting a 13-3 record in their last 16 Saturday games. The Pens went 22-4-2 at PPG Paints Arena last season.
Devils Struggling to Score
The Devils have lost two of three games since losing superstar Jack Hughes to a shoulder injury. Hughes dislocated his shoulder in a game against Seattle on Oc. 20 and will be re-evaluated in five weeks. Since losing Hughes to injury, the Devils have been outscored by a combined 10-6 by the Capitals, Sabres and Flames.
Hughes is such a game-changer that the Devils lose significant value in the NHL odds when he isn’t in the lineup. Pavel Zacha has been impressive with four goals in five games, but rookie Dawson Mercer is the only other forward who’s scored more than once. New Jersey may struggle facing goalie Tristan Jarry, who’s had a strong start.
Devils vs Penguins Projected Starting Goalies
| Team | Goalie | Record | SV% | GAA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Jersey Devils | Nico Daws | 1-0-0 | .875 | 3.21 |
| Pittsburgh Penguins | Tristan Jarry | 3-1-1 | .933 | 1.78 |
The biggest concern for New jersey might be that goalies Jonathan Bernier (lower-body) and MacKenzie Blackwood (heel) remain out of the lineup. New Jersey has actually allowed the fewest amount of high-dangers chances in the league, but netminders Nico Daws and Scott Wedgewood have both had some tough outings.
Devils vs Penguins Pick
Crosby returning could be just what’s needed to snap Pittsburgh out of a two-game funk. The Penguins assigned rookie forward Kasper Bjorkqvist to the AHL on Friday, so it’s clear the team is expecting one or both of Crosby and Carter to join the roster. Crosby scored five goals in eight games against New Jersey last season.
Sidney Crosby is working on his sharp-angle shot. #Pens pic.twitter.com/drsR5pR0oz
— Wes Crosby (@OtherNHLCrosby) October 28, 2021
The Devils lack offensive firepower outside of Hughes, which is one of the reasons they’re fading in the Stanley Cup odds. Blackwood is usually a reason to consider New Jersey as underdogs, but he remains out of the lineup. Jarry has been fantastic for Pittsburgh and gives the Pens a goaltending edge.
Pittsburgh has dominated this rivalry of late, and are worth a wager despite Malkin, Letang and Rust being out. Jarry should stymie this struggling Devils’ offense, while Jake Guentzel and Jason Zucker should help fill the back of the net against an inexperienced New Jersey netminder.
Pick: Pittsburgh Penguins Moneyline (-145)
Brady is the lead NHL and College Football editor at Sports Betting Dime, where he specializes in betting odds and data-driven analysis. Brady has over 10 years experience working in sports media, with work published by outlets such as ESPN, CBS Sports, Yahoo! Sports and Fox Sports.
