Pittsburgh Penguins vs New Jersey Devils Prediction, 12/19/2021 NHL Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Pittsburgh Penguins vs New Jersey Devils

Date: Sunday, December 19, 2021

Location: Prudential Center in Newark, NJ

TV: MSG+

Prudential Center is the site where Mackenzie Blackwood and the New Jersey Devils (10-13-5) will play the Pittsburgh Penguins (15-8-5) on Sunday.

The Pittsburgh Penguins came out of this game feeling pretty good about themselves with a 5-2 win over the Canadiens in their last outing. Pittsburgh amassed 10 penalty mins in this matchup. Moreover, they had 5 power play chances and scored 1 goal. The Penguins had a great offensive game plan going into this one and it showed in the victory. For the outing, they earned a goal on 5 of the 31 shots they put on goal.

Pittsburgh Penguins opponents have totaled 68 power play tries (31st in professional hockey) and have a total of 5 goals in those attempts. The Penguins have had 850 shots tried against them and have a save percentage of .920. Pittsburgh has taken 981 shots and holds a shot percentage of 8.6%. While at even strength, the Penguins have allowed the opponent to score 63 goals while scoring 72 on offense. Pittsburgh skates onto the rink with 79 power play chances and they have scored 12 goals out of those attempts, giving them a rate of 15.19%. For the current season, they have racked up 35 points and their points percentage is sitting at .625. In relation to scoring goals, the Pittsburgh Penguins have notched 84 goals (15th in hockey) this year and have allowed 68.

The player guarding the cage in this matchup is Tristan Jarry. In his career, Jarry has 75 quality starts and his percentage for quality starts is .641. He has a save percentage of .916 during his 6,994 mins on the ice. Jarry has had 3,513 shots taken against him and has garnered 3,219 total saves. The opposition has notched 294 goals against Jarry in his career and his average for goals against per game is 2.52. He has earned a mark of 72-34-11 and he was named the starter in 117 games. Jarry has been in net for 123 games throughout his pro hockey career.

When they were on the ice last, New Jersey faced the Golden Knights in a matchup where the Devils took the loss by a tally of 5-3. They had 3 power play chances in this matchup and scored 1 goal out of those chances. The Devils recorded 3 goals out of the 26 shots on goal they pursued.

New Jersey has put up 880 shots (18th in professional hockey) and has a shot percentage of 8.75%, while allowing the opposition 869 shots. They have accumulated a penalty kill rate of 79.31% on their opponents 87 chances on the power play, and their save percentage is 89.3%. They have a total of 78 power play chances and they have accumulated a power play rate of 12.82%. The Devils have racked up 67 goals at even strength and 10 goals (31st in the league) while on the power play. They have permitted 93 goals to be scored by of a combination of 75 goals at even strength and 18 goals while they were shorthanded. During this campaign, the New Jersey Devils have accounted for 77 goals, 25 points, in addition to a points percentage of .446.

On the other side of the ice you will find Mackenzie Blackwood patrolling the crease. Blackwood is the owner of a career mark of 51-47-15 and has played in 121 games. Blackwood's rate of quality starts is 52.6% and he has 60 quality starts in his NHL career. He has accounted for 3,329 stops out of the 3,659 shots attempted, which gives him a save % of .910. The opposition is averaging 2.87 goals/game and he has allowed 330 goals in total. He has made the start in 114 contests and has been on the ice for 6,898 mins.

Who will win tonight's hockey game against the spread?

Guy's Pick: Take Pittsburgh

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