Faceoff is scheduled for 7:00 PM ET
Venue: Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey (home of the Devils; capacity ~16,500)
Broadcast: ESPN+ (U.S.); SN-PIT, MSGSN (local/regional); available via NHL streams internationally.
This late-season Metropolitan Division matchup features a surging Penguins team still battling for optimal playoff positioning against an eliminated Devils squad that has been inconsistent and decimated by injuries. Pittsburgh arrives riding offensive momentum from a dominant weekend sweep of the Panthers, while New Jersey is playing out the string at home after being mathematically eliminated earlier in the week.
Recent Team Forms (Last 5–10 Games)
Penguins (strong 4-1-0 or better in recent stretch; offense exploding):
Apr 5: W 5-2 vs. Florida Panthers (Rakell 2G, Crosby 1G/2A)
Apr 4: W 9-4 vs. Florida Panthers (Malkin hat trick +1A, Karlsson 4P)
Apr 2: L 3-6 @ Tampa Bay Lightning
Earlier games: 3-1-0 in the four prior to the TBL loss, with high-scoring outputs. They have won four of their last five and are averaging over 5 goals per game lately.
Devils (mixed 2-3-0 in last 5; eliminated after recent home loss):
Apr 7: L 1-5 vs. Philadelphia Flyers
Apr 5: W 3-0 @ Montreal Canadiens (Markstrom shutout)
Apr 4: L 3-4 (SO) vs. Montreal Canadiens
Apr 2: W 7-3 vs. Washington Capitals
They have been eliminated and are 2-3-0 in their last five, with defensive lapses and goaltending variance showing in losses.
Injury Report
Penguins (goaltending and depth tested):
Stuart Skinner (G) – Day-to-day (eye; recent update: feels good, vision improved – possible to start)
Caleb Jones (D) – Out for season (shoulder)
Blake Lizotte (C) – Out (upper body; reevaluated in ~4 weeks)
Filip Hallander (C) – IR (long-term)
Peyton Kettles (D) – Out (long-term)
Devils (multiple season-ending absences; forward group thinned):
Arseny Gritsyuk (RW) – Out for season (upper body; surgery)
Stefan Noesen (RW) – Out for season (knee)
Zack MacEwen (RW) – Out for season (ACL)
Brett Pesce (D) – Out (lower body)
Penguins are healthier overall up front; Devils are missing key depth pieces on both sides of the puck.
Key Player Matchups
Elite Centers: Sidney Crosby (PIT, ~72 points, ongoing point-per-game streak) & Evgeni Malkin (recent hot streak, hat trick vs. FLA) vs. Jack Hughes (NJD, ~72 points) & Nico Hischier. Crosby and Malkin have dominated recent games; Hughes remains New Jersey’s primary threat.
Wing/Secondary Scoring: Rickard Rakell & Bryan Rust (PIT, both streaking) vs. Jesper Bratt & Timo Meier (NJD). Penguins’ depth has produced heavily lately.
Goaltending: Likely Stuart Skinner (or backup) for Pittsburgh vs. Jacob Markstrom (NJD, strong shutout Apr 5 but allowed 5 vs. PHI).
Defense/Secondary: Penguins lean on Erik Karlsson (~64 points, playmaking) and Ryan Shea; Devils will counter with Johnathan Kovacevic and Dougie Hamilton but miss Pesce’s stability. Expect special teams to play a big role.
Series History
2025-26 Season: Penguins lead the season series (specific results include 4-1 wins in late January/February meetings; Devils took one in shootout on Nov 8). Pittsburgh has won the majority of recent encounters.
All-Time: Nearly even (~119-118-17-13 in Penguins’ favor historically), but Pittsburgh has owned the most recent matchups.
Betting Trends
Penguins are 4-1-0 SU lately with high-scoring games (overs hitting frequently). Devils are 2-3-0 in last five and have struggled ATS as home underdogs. Pittsburgh performs well on the road in playoff-push spots; New Jersey’s elimination has led to inconsistent efforts. Overs have cashed in several Penguins games due to offensive firepower.
Game Odds
Pittsburgh Penguins – 112
New Jersey Devils 6.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Wednesday, April 8, 2026
