New Jersey Devils vs Pittsburgh Penguins Prediction, 2/18/2023 NHL Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: New Jersey Devils vs Pittsburgh Penguins

Date: Saturday, February 18, 2023

Location: PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA

TV: AT&T Sportsnet Pittsburgh

Odds/Point Spread: Devils (-110) Penguins (-110)

The New Jersey Devils (35-14-5) are en route to PPG Paints Arena on Saturday where they will compete against the Pittsburgh Penguins (27-17-9). The moneyline on this matchup has New Jersey at -110 while Pittsburgh is coming in at -110. The total has been set at 6.

The New Jersey Devils will look for better times on the ice after their 4-2 defeat to the Blues in their previous contest . The Devils didn't have their best offensive outing in this loss. For the game, they converted 2 of the 36 shots they attempted. In addition, they had 1 power play opportunity but didn't net one. New Jersey tallied 8 mins in the box for this contest.

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When discussing their scoring capabilities, the New Jersey Devils have earned 185 goals (8th in the NHL) on the season and have given up 143. For the season, they have accumulated 75 points and their points % is .694. New Jersey has 158 power play chances and they have tallied 33 goals out of those chances, giving them a percentage of 20.89%. When at even strength, the Devils have surrendered 111 goals while having 152 themselves. New Jersey has taken 1,842 shots and is the owner of a shooting percentage of 10.0%. The Devils so far have had 1,550 shots tried against them and have earned a save percentage of .908. New Jersey Devils opponents have totaled 165 power play tries (19th in the league) and have come away with 32 goals in those chances.

Patrolling the crease for the game will be Vitek Vanecek. Over the course of his time in hockey, Vanecek has 59 quality starts and his percentage for quality starts is .551. His save percentage is at .910 during his 6,377 mins between the pipes. Vanecek has had 3,046 shot attempts against him and he has 2,773 total saves. Opponents have been able to score 273 goals versus Vanecek in his career and his goals against rate is 2.57. He has compiled an overall record of 64-27-13 and was named the starter in 107 games. Vanecek has taken the ice for 114 contests throughout his professional hockey career.

In their last outing, Pittsburgh opposed the Sharks in an outing where the Penguins notched a win by a final score of 3-1. The Penguins scored 3 goals of the 28 shots on goal they took. They had 3 power play chances in this one but didn't score a goal.

During this campaign, the Pittsburgh Penguins have tallied 171 goals, 63 points, and a points percentage of .594. They have allowed 163 goals to be scored by way of 130 goals at even strength and 33 goals while they were shorthanded. The Penguins have tallied 131 goals at even strength and 40 goals (13th in pro hockey) while on the power play. They have a tally of 185 power play chances and they have a power play percentage of 21.62%. Pittsburgh has tried 1,760 shots (15th in pro hockey) and has earned a shooting percentage of 9.72%, while allowing the opposition 1,804 shots. They have earned a penalty kill percentage of 80.81% on the other teams 172 chances on the power play, and their save percentage currently sits at 91.0%.

Across the ice you are likely to see Casey DeSmith defending the net. Teams are averaging 2.79 goals per game and he has given up 309 goals overall. DeSmith's quality start percentage sits at 53.3% and he has earned 57 quality starts in his career. He has been a starter 107 games and has played 6,653 minutes. DeSmith has a career record of 53-39-15 and has been in goal for 122 games. He has compiled 3,255 stops out of 3,564 shots attempted, giving him a percentage of .913.

Who will win tonight's NHL game against the spread or moneyline?

Tony's Pick: Take New Jersey (-110)

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