New Jersey Devils vs Pittsburgh Penguins Prediction - 1/8/2026
Updated July 9, 2026
Thursday’s game between the New Jersey Devils and the Pittsburgh Penguins at PPG Paints Arena brings two Metropolitan Division rivals together for a very important contest. The Devils come in reeling from an embarrassing 9‑0 loss to the Islanders, while Pittsburgh comes into this contest on a five-game winning streak. Here, I break down all the action and you can find my Devils vs Penguins prediction right here.
Pick: | Penguins ML |
Confidence: | 3/5 |
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The Devils enter this one amid turmoil. New Jersey was absolutely thumped 9‑0 by the Islanders in its most recent outing, a performance that raised questions about everything that they do on the ice. That defeat was the second in a row for the Devils, while the team is just 2‑6 in its last eight games. Pittsburgh has won five straight, with Sidney Crosby leading the charge and helping lift the club into a wildcard position in the Eastern Conference.
New Jersey’s netminding has been a roller coaster, with Jakob Markstrom getting tagged for nine in his last start despite earlier solid work. We should see Jake Allen in net for the Devils in this contest. Pittsburgh’s crease will be occupied by Stuart Skinner, who has a respectable goals‑against average and save rate. He’s backed by a defense that’s tightened up in their recent wins.
Sidney Crosby continues to be Pittsburgh’s top threat. Crosby has been spectacular, ranking near the league leaders in total points this season with 24 goals and 23 assists. His presence, along with steady scoring from players like Bryan Rust, gives the Penguins a balanced attack. New Jersey’s offense has struggled beyond its top options. Jesper Bratt and Timo Meier have been their primary weapons, but recent games have shown that New Jersey needs a lot more than those two to have success.
Player | Prop |
|---|---|
Sidney Crosby | Over 1.5 Points |
Jesper Bratt | Over 0.5 Points |
Score Projection: Devils 2 – Penguins 4
Win Probability: Devils 39%, Penguins 61%
Pittsburgh enters as the healthier and hotter team in this game. With Crosby clicking and the Penguins' defense tightening up, they should control this game and exploit New Jersey’s current offensive woes. I'll take Pittsburgh to win this game as a slight favorite at home, though the result won't be nearly as lopsided as the Devils' last loss was.
Jay Sanin is the GM and Head of Sports at ATS.io. He has been writing about sports gambling since 2013, handicapping tens of thousands of sporting events. He plays sides and totals aggressively across most sports and is more selective in player prop markets. He does his own modeling across most sports, and his family is jealous of how much time he spends on his precious spreadsheets.
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