Pittsburgh Penguins vs. New Jersey Devils Pick & Prediction DECEMBER 21st 2024
Preview and Prediction
The dominant top line of the Pittsburgh Penguins has been the driving force behind the team's recent string of victories.
On Saturday, Bryan Rust, star captain Sidney Crosby, and Rickard Rakell will aim to continue their impressive point production as the Penguins face off against the New Jersey Devils in Newark, N.J.
In their last game against the Nashville Predators, both Rust and Crosby recorded four points each. Rust scored the game-winning goal in overtime, while Crosby broke his 10-game goal drought and added three assists.
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"Hopefully, the goals start coming in bunches now. It was definitely a relief to see one go in," Crosby commented. "It was a fun way to gain some momentum there."
Rust has accumulated 17 points in his last 11 games, while Crosby has 15 in his last 12. Rakell also contributed to the line's success with a goal and an assist against the Predators, bringing their total points to 10 for the game.
"Ricky has been exceptional, and so has Sid. I've just been trying to do my part. We work well together," Rust said. "Once we have one good shift, we can feel the momentum building. Sid really drives the line, and we all work together seamlessly."
The Penguins have gone into overtime in their last three games, winning the last two. They have an impressive record of 8-2-1 in their last 11 games, marking the first time since October that they have more wins than regulation losses.
"A month ago, we probably wouldn't have won a game like that," said Penguins coach Mike Sullivan. "I think the team has developed a certain resilience and belief that if we stick with it, we can come back. We just have to keep competing. That's what I'm most proud of with this group."
The Devils will be looking to bounce back after their three-game winning streak was snapped by a 4-2 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday.
Luke Hughes and Timo Meier both scored for New Jersey, showing determination in their attempt to come back from a three-goal deficit.
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"We have a really resilient group, and although it wasn't the outcome we wanted, it was important for all of our guys to play a full 60 minutes and push until the very end," Hughes said.
Jack Hughes, who registered a career-high 13 shot attempts in the game, was praised by Devils coach Sheldon Keefe for his outstanding performance.
"To me, this might have been Jack Hughes' best game of the season. He was exceptional. He either created the shot and chance himself or set it up for others and drove the team down the ice. He was determined to win this game, and it was clear how much he wanted to lead the charge in the 6-on-5 situations. I thought he was outstanding in the second and third periods. On most nights, he probably would have had three or four goals," Keefe said.
Jack Hughes extended his point streak to four games with an assist on Meier's goal, tallying two goals and five assists during this stretch.
Pittsburgh Penguins vs. New Jersey Devils Recap JAN 22TH 2023
Dougie Hamilton scored a power-play goal 2:07 into overtime Sunday afternoon to give the New Jersey Devils a 2-1 win against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Newark, N.J.
Marcus Pettersson appeared to net the game-winner for the Penguins at the 1:30 mark, but referees immediately waved the goal off because Pittsburgh had too many men on the ice after Pettersson leaped off the bench on a shift change before a teammate exited.
Hamilton, at the left faceoff circle, took a pass from Jack Hughes and fired a slapshot that sailed over the glove of Tristan Jarry for the first goal in more than 55 minutes of game time.
Hughes scored 56 seconds into the first for the Devils, who have won six of seven (6-0-1). Goalie Vitek Vanecek made 26 saves.
Sidney Crosby scored the tying goal early in the first period for the Penguins, who have lost four of six (2-3-1) but extended their lead over the idle New York Islanders and Florida Panthers to three points in the race for the final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference. Jarry recorded 23 saves.
The Devils jumped out to a quick lead on a milestone goal by Hughes, who raced up the right side and skated around Rickard Rakell in the neutral zone before shuffling the puck in the faceoff circle and firing a shot over Jarry's glove.
The goal was the career-high 30th of the season for Hughes, who had 26 goals last season. He is the first Devils player to collect at least 30 goals since Taylor Hall had 39 goals during the 2017-18 season.
The Penguins tied the score less than six minutes later. Crosby backhanded the puck to Jeff Petry before dashing to the slot. Petry then passed to Crosby, who fired a shot beyond the glove of Vanecek, who was screened by leaping Pittsburgh defenseman Marcus Pettersson, at the 6:25 mark.
The Penguins outshot the Devils 12-2 in the second before New Jersey held a 12-10 advantage in the third. But Pittsburgh had the best chance at scoring the tie-breaking goal 2:05 into the final period when Ryan Poehling had a point-blank shot at Vanecek, who managed to deflect it as he fell backward so that the puck glanced off the top post.