Penguins Vs Devils: Pittsburgh heads to New Jersey for a big night at Prudential Center
The Penguins Vs Devils matchup lands Thursday night at Prudential Center, with puck drop set for 7: 00 PM ET. Pittsburgh visits New Jersey with a chance to keep its strong stretch going and move one step closer to clinching a postseason berth.
The Penguins Vs Devils game will be shown on SportsNet Pittsburgh, with radio coverage on 105. 9 The X and the Penguins app. Pittsburgh enters at 40-22-16, while New Jersey is 40-35-3.
What is at stake in Penguins Vs Devils
In the tightest sense, the Penguins Vs Devils game is about adding two more points in a season that has already been full of production for Pittsburgh. The Penguins have points in 17 of their last 25 games against New Jersey, going 13-8-4 since Mar. 20, 2021, and they are 7-3-2 in their last 12 visits to Prudential Center.
Pittsburgh also has points in five of its last six road games, which gives this trip a stable backdrop. The club has 277 goals this season, ranking second in the NHL, and the total is the team’s highest since the 2016-17 campaign, with four regular-season games still to play.
Key players to watch
Rickard Rakell arrives in sharp form, with points in 16 of his last 17 games and an active eight-game point streak. Since March 22, no player in the league has scored more goals than Rakell, and his run has been a major driver in Pittsburgh’s surge.
Sidney Crosby is one goal away from 30 for the 14th time in his career and the fifth straight season. Anthony Mantha enters with points in 11 of his last 15 games and career highs in goals, assists, and points, while Erik Karlsson has 29 points in his last 21 games and leads all defensemen in that span.
For New Jersey, the scoring load is spread around more evenly. Nico Hischier leads the Devils with 26 goals, Jack Hughes has 25 goals and a team-best 72 points, and Jacob Markstrom is listed at 23-19-1 with a shutout, an. 883 save percentage, and a 3. 07 goals-against average.
Recent form and the larger picture
Pittsburgh’s recent results have given Thursday a bigger edge. The Penguins are coming off a two-game home sweep of Florida, capped by a 5-2 win on Sunday, while New Jersey enters after a 5-1 loss to Philadelphia on Tuesday night.
Head coach Dan Muse has Pittsburgh playing consistent hockey in his first NHL season, and the team has already passed last season’s win total. That makes Penguins Vs Devils more than a standalone game; it is another test of whether the Penguins can keep their pace while the standings tighten around them.
The practical next step is simple: if Pittsburgh handles Penguins Vs Devils, the club can keep control of its own path and avoid leaning on other results. With the puck set to drop at 7: 00 PM ET, the pressure, the form, and the setting all point to a night that should carry real weight in New Jersey.
