New Jersey Devils vs Pittsburgh Penguins Picks & Predictions for Thursday, January 8, 2026
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The New Jersey Devils head to Pittsburgh to face the Penguins on Thursday night (7:00 PM ET, ESPN+). New Jersey is 22-19-2 and 11-11-0 on the road, while Pittsburgh is 20-12-9 and 9-6-5 at home. This one is essentially a coin flip on the moneyline with Pittsburgh at -112 and New Jersey at -108. The total is 6.5 (Over -105, Under -115). Be ready for all the NHL action with our free NHL Picks.
New Jersey Devils Team Breakdown
New Jersey’s numbers show a team that can control pace but hasn’t finished enough: 2.58 goals per game is light, even with a strong shot profile (30.0 shots per game). Defensively they’re not a disaster (3.09 GA/G), but their outcomes have been wildly volatile lately—highlighted by that 9-0 loss to the Islanders on Jan. 6, which is the sort of result that either triggers a focused bounce-back or exposes deeper defensive issues.
The Devils’ special teams are solid-but-not-scary: 20.2% power play and 77.5% penalty kill. The PK number matters here because Pittsburgh’s power play is a real weapon.
Goaltending note: If Jake Allen (2.55 GAA, .913 SV%) starts, New Jersey’s defensive floor looks far better than if it’s Jacob Markstrom (3.48 GAA, .878 SV%). That’s a major swing in a near pick’em game.
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Injury Report (New Jersey):
- Evgenii Dadonov (IR, est. Jan 25)
Pittsburgh Penguins Team Breakdown
Pittsburgh’s profile is more “finished product” offensively: 3.27 goals per game with a similar defensive number to New Jersey (3.07 GA/G). They’re not relying on crazy shot suppression, but they’re efficient, and they’ve been rolling lately with five straight wins, four of them in overtime/shootout variety—meaning they’re very comfortable playing close games all the way to the horn.
Where Pittsburgh separates is special teams: a massive 29.7% power play, paired with an 81.5% penalty kill. Against a Devils PK sitting at 77.5%, that’s the clearest matchup edge on the board—especially in a game priced basically even.
Injury Report (Pittsburgh):
- Rutger McGroarty (IR, est. Jan 19)
- Evgeni Malkin (IR, est. Jan 8)
- Peyton Kettles (OUT, est. Sep 15)
- Caleb Jones (IR, est. Jan 17)
- Tanner Howe (IR-NR, est. Jan 24)
If Malkin sits again, it does trim some of Pittsburgh’s 5-on-5 punch, but the PP edge is still the big story.
Matchup Edges and Game Script
This sets up like a “small edges” game: New Jersey shoots a lot but scores less; Pittsburgh scores more and has the more dangerous special-teams package. With both teams allowing right around 3 goals per game, and Pittsburgh’s recent run full of tight finishes, the most likely script is another one-possession type game where one power-play goal (or one goalie swing) decides it.
New Jersey already took the first meeting 2-1 (SO) on Nov. 8, but the current form points more toward Pittsburgh—especially at home and with that PP looming.
Devils vs Penguins Picks & Predictions
Best Bet: Pittsburgh Penguins moneyline (-112) In a near pick’em, I’ll side with the home team that’s been consistently closing games and has the clear special-teams edge.
Total Lean: Under 6.5 (-115) New Jersey’s offence is underpowered at 2.58 GF/G, and this matchup smells like a 3-2 / 4-2 type result more than a wide-open track meet—unless the power plays explode.
Final Score Prediction: Penguins 4, Devils 2
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