by Chuck Sommers
Saturday, Feb 18, 2023
Time: 5:30 p.m. ET
Venue: PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh, PA
Where to watch: ATTSN-PT, MSG
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Devils -115, Penguins -105
FanDuel: Even
BetMGM: NL
Caesars: Devils -115, Penguins -105
Season record
Devils: 35-14-5
Penguins: 27-18-9
The All-Star break is over, the second half of the NHL season can officially begin, and we're bound for what should be a very exciting second half of the hockey season. Basketball and hockey are about to rule the roost in the sports betting world once the Super Bowl is done with, and we should all be very excited for what's to come. When the trade deadline hits and players switch teams, you know things are about to get hectic over these final 30 games or so. One way you can stay tuned with the action is following what our champion handicappers are doing in the world of the NHL. Look at ASA, Inc., reeling in a $6,750 profit off a 17-9-0 run. Al McMordie is also doing well on the ice with a 13-5-0 run and a net profit of $6,050. Scott Rickenbach has also been hanging strong with a lot of betting action, in what's been an unusual year, with a 24-18-0 run and reeling in $5,950. You know this action is going to be great now that games are back and a busy second half if on the horizon. All you need to do is head to our BEST BETS page at bigal.com to find out all of what we're trying to tell you. Make sure you're locked in at bigal.com and go to our Best Bets page to find out what our champion handicappers have to say in the world of the NHL!
Devils - Penguins preview, prediction and analysis
Recent results
Devils: lost 4-2 at Blues
Penguins: lost 5-4 at Islanders
The New Jersey Devils will be playing The Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday, February 18 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
The New Jersey Devils lost against the St. Louis Blues last Thursday, February 16 at Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Missouri with a score of 4-2. The New Jersey Devils currently rank 2nd in the Metropolitan Division.
Dawson Mercer and Erik Haula scored, and Mackenzie Blackwood made 31 saves for the Devils (35-14-5), who were 4-0-1 in their past five games.
"I thought we had a terrible night in our own end," New Jersey coach Lindy Ruff said. "I thought we got beat to pucks. Some of our puck play led to our goals against, turned over pucks, and I think when you turn over pucks, especially against their top line a couple of times, you put yourself in a lot of trouble.
"It wasn't a night where we got consistent hockey out of all four lines. It was probably one of our poorest nights when it came to a four-line performance and being on the same page."
It was the Devils' fourth regulation loss on the road this season. They lead the NHL with 20 road wins.
"It's tough. That's hockey," Devils defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler said. "It goes quick. After a situation like that, you've just got to focus back on your game and do the right thing and push for a goal. I think a couple times we were pretty close, but not quite there."
Pavel Buchnevich put the Blues ahead 1-0 at 16:32 of the first period, finishing off a backdoor tap-in from Ivan Barbashev. Mercer tied it 1-1 at 17:30, roofing a rebound to the right of Jesper Boqvist's shot that an outstretched Binnington kicked out.
Alexey Toropchenko made it 2-1 at 4:00 by tapping in a loose puck at the right post, and Jordan Kyrou extended the lead to 3-1 at 5:35 on a wrist shot from the right hash marks after Schenn and Thomas won a forecheck battle in the corner behind the net.
Haula cut it to 3-2 at 8:32 on a shot high stick side, the last goal for New Jersey in this game.
The New Jersey Devils have won six of their last 10 games.
The Pittsburgh Penguins lost against the New York Islanders on Friday, February 17 at UBS Arena in Elmont, New York with a score of 5-4. The Pittsburgh Penguins currently rank 4th in the Metropolitan Division.
Rickard Rakell scored twice, and Sidney Crosby had a goal and an assist for the Penguins (27-18-9), who host the New Jersey Devils on Saturday. Casey DeSmith made 23 saves.
The teams will play again in Pittsburgh on Monday.
"Obviously the results are important, especially at this time of year," Pittsburgh coach Mike Sullivan said. "So, we want to get results. I'm disappointed that we didn't get it because I thought we played well enough to, but that's hockey. We have to regroup. We have an important one tomorrow night. We have to get ready."
Crosby gave the Penguins a 1-0 lead at 12:00 of the first period from the edge of the goal crease after Sorokin was unable to secure a wrist shot from Pierre-Olivier Joseph. It was Crosby's 25th goal of the season.
Anders Lee tied it 1-1 with his 20th goal at 13:56 when he backhanded the puck off the chest of DeSmith, who was lying on his back.
"That's a first," DeSmith said of Lee's unconventional goal. "I thought it was under me. I guess it was on top of me."
The Penguins went back in front with two goals in 1:42 in the second period. Rakell made it 2-1 on a redirection from Jake Guentzel at 3:53, and Zucker gave Pittsburgh a 3-1 lead at 5:35 when he tipped Joseph's shot from the point.
"We definitely had our chances," Rakell said.
Brock Nelson cut it to 3-2 when he scored on a wraparound at 14:25. He has scored four straight games and has a 12-game point streak (16 points; nine goals, seven assists). Rakell scored again at 18:57 off a backhand feed from Crosby to make it 4-2, but Lee cut it to 4-3 just 35 seconds later with his second goal, a redirection of Mathew Barzal's wrist shot at 19:32.
"I thought for the majority of the night the team was terrific," Sullivan said. "We had a really good first period and we had a really strong second period. They got a couple opportunistic goals in the second period [that] gave them life. I thought we had tons of energy. I felt we were playing with the right intentions out there."
Nelson tied it 4-4 on a one-timer from Noah Dobson. Zach Parise broke a tie with 2:43 remaining in the third period, giving New York the win.
The Pittsburgh Penguins have won five of their last 10 games.
Prediction
Jack Hughes is expected to return, which is a huge win for the Devils, who have stayed playing well despite not having the star in the lineup. Watch out for the Blitzkrieg. Devils 5, Penguins 3
The New Jersey Devils will be playing The Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday, February 18 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
The New Jersey Devils lost against the St. Louis Blues last Thursday, February 16 at Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Missouri with a score of 4-2. The New Jersey Devils currently rank 2nd in the Metropolitan Division.
Dawson Mercer and Erik Haula scored, and Mackenzie Blackwood made 31 saves for the Devils (35-14-5), who were 4-0-1 in their past five games.
"I thought we had a terrible night in our own end," New Jersey coach Lindy Ruff said. "I thought we got beat to pucks. Some of our puck play led to our goals against, turned over pucks, and I think when you turn over pucks, especially against their top line a couple of times, you put yourself in a lot of trouble.
"It wasn't a night where we got consistent hockey out of all four lines. It was probably one of our poorest nights when it came to a four-line performance and being on the same page."
It was the Devils' fourth regulation loss on the road this season. They lead the NHL with 20 road wins.
"It's tough. That's hockey," Devils defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler said. "It goes quick. After a situation like that, you've just got to focus back on your game and do the right thing and push for a goal. I think a couple times we were pretty close, but not quite there."
Pavel Buchnevich put the Blues ahead 1-0 at 16:32 of the first period, finishing off a backdoor tap-in from Ivan Barbashev. Mercer tied it 1-1 at 17:30, roofing a rebound to the right of Jesper Boqvist's shot that an outstretched Binnington kicked out.
Alexey Toropchenko made it 2-1 at 4:00 by tapping in a loose puck at the right post, and Jordan Kyrou extended the lead to 3-1 at 5:35 on a wrist shot from the right hash marks after Schenn and Thomas won a forecheck battle in the corner behind the net.
Haula cut it to 3-2 at 8:32 on a shot high stick side, the last goal for New Jersey in this game.
The New Jersey Devils have won six of their last 10 games.
The Pittsburgh Penguins lost against the New York Islanders on Friday, February 17 at UBS Arena in Elmont, New York with a score of 5-4. The Pittsburgh Penguins currently rank 4th in the Metropolitan Division.
Rickard Rakell scored twice, and Sidney Crosby had a goal and an assist for the Penguins (27-18-9), who host the New Jersey Devils on Saturday. Casey DeSmith made 23 saves.
The teams will play again in Pittsburgh on Monday.
"Obviously the results are important, especially at this time of year," Pittsburgh coach Mike Sullivan said. "So, we want to get results. I'm disappointed that we didn't get it because I thought we played well enough to, but that's hockey. We have to regroup. We have an important one tomorrow night. We have to get ready."
Crosby gave the Penguins a 1-0 lead at 12:00 of the first period from the edge of the goal crease after Sorokin was unable to secure a wrist shot from Pierre-Olivier Joseph. It was Crosby's 25th goal of the season.
Anders Lee tied it 1-1 with his 20th goal at 13:56 when he backhanded the puck off the chest of DeSmith, who was lying on his back.
"That's a first," DeSmith said of Lee's unconventional goal. "I thought it was under me. I guess it was on top of me."
The Penguins went back in front with two goals in 1:42 in the second period. Rakell made it 2-1 on a redirection from Jake Guentzel at 3:53, and Zucker gave Pittsburgh a 3-1 lead at 5:35 when he tipped Joseph's shot from the point.
"We definitely had our chances," Rakell said.
Brock Nelson cut it to 3-2 when he scored on a wraparound at 14:25. He has scored four straight games and has a 12-game point streak (16 points; nine goals, seven assists). Rakell scored again at 18:57 off a backhand feed from Crosby to make it 4-2, but Lee cut it to 4-3 just 35 seconds later with his second goal, a redirection of Mathew Barzal's wrist shot at 19:32.
"I thought for the majority of the night the team was terrific," Sullivan said. "We had a really good first period and we had a really strong second period. They got a couple opportunistic goals in the second period [that] gave them life. I thought we had tons of energy. I felt we were playing with the right intentions out there."
Nelson tied it 4-4 on a one-timer from Noah Dobson. Zach Parise broke a tie with 2:43 remaining in the third period, giving New York the win.
The Pittsburgh Penguins have won five of their last 10 games.
Prediction
Jack Hughes is expected to return, which is a huge win for the Devils, who have stayed playing well despite not having the star in the lineup. Watch out for the Blitzkrieg. Devils 5, Penguins 3
Betting trends
Devils are 10-6 against division opponents this season.
Devils are 17-11 off an under this season.
Penguins are 5-8 against division opponents this season.
Projected lines
Devils:
Ondrej Palat -- Nico Hischier -- Jesper Bratt
Yegor Sharangovich -- Erik Haula -- Fabian Zetterlund
Tomas Tatar -- Jesper Boqvist -- Dawson Mercer
Miles Wood -- Michael McLeod -- Nathan Bastian
Jonas Siegenthaler -- Dougie Hamilton
Ryan Graves -- Damon Severson
Kevin Bahl -- John Marino
Vitek Vanecek
Ondrej Palat -- Nico Hischier -- Jesper Bratt
Yegor Sharangovich -- Erik Haula -- Fabian Zetterlund
Tomas Tatar -- Jesper Boqvist -- Dawson Mercer
Miles Wood -- Michael McLeod -- Nathan Bastian
Jonas Siegenthaler -- Dougie Hamilton
Ryan Graves -- Damon Severson
Kevin Bahl -- John Marino
Vitek Vanecek
Penguins:
Jake Guentzel -- Sidney Crosby -- Rickard Rakell
Jason Zucker -- Evgeni Malkin -- Bryan Rust
Brock McGinn -- Jeff Carter -- Kasperi Kapanen
Drew O'Connor -- Teddy Blueger -- Josh Archibald
Brian Dumoulin -- Kris Letang
Marcus Pettersson -- Jeff Petry
Pierre-Olivier Joseph -- Chad Ruhwedel
Dustin Tokarski
Jake Guentzel -- Sidney Crosby -- Rickard Rakell
Jason Zucker -- Evgeni Malkin -- Bryan Rust
Brock McGinn -- Jeff Carter -- Kasperi Kapanen
Drew O'Connor -- Teddy Blueger -- Josh Archibald
Brian Dumoulin -- Kris Letang
Marcus Pettersson -- Jeff Petry
Pierre-Olivier Joseph -- Chad Ruhwedel
Dustin Tokarski
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Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
