On Tuesday, the New Jersey Devils (29-18-6) face off against the Pittsburgh Penguins (22-24-8) at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Make sure you stay up to date with all the NHL action, with our expert NHL picks.

Pittsburgh comes into this matchup on a one-game winning streak, but has dropped three of their last five games. In an exciting overtime victory, the Pittsburgh Penguins secured a 3-2 win against Utah, with Erik Karlsson contributing one of the goals. For the current season, Rickard Rakell stands out as the top goal-scorer for Pittsburgh, having netted an impressive 23 goals. Following close behind is Bryan Rust, who has amassed 19 goals, making him the team's second-highest goal-scorer. Sidney Crosby, a central figure for the Penguins, dominates in points for the season, having accumulated a total of 55 points, which includes a leading 39 assists. Recently, Pittsburgh's defensive performance has been under scrutiny, as they have allowed an average of 2.8 goals over their last five matches. This has contributed to their position at the bottom of the Metropolitan Division standings. However, the Penguins are determined to build on their recent success and aim for back-to-back wins while trying to square the season series with New Jersey. Throughout the season, the Penguins have managed to score an average of 2.9 goals per game.

New Jersey enters this game on a one-game winning streak and has won three of their last five games prior to their game against Buffalo. In a decisive 5-0 victory against Philadelphia, Jack Hughes contributed significantly to the New Jersey Devils' success by scoring a goal and providing an assist. This season, Nico Hischier has been the top goal scorer for the Devils, having found the back of the net 24 times. Meanwhile, Jack Hughes follows closely as the team's second-highest goal scorer, having netted 20 goals so far. When it comes to overall points, Hughes leads the team with a total of 60 points, highlighting his importance to the Devils' offense. Jesper Bratt, on the other hand, shines as the team's top playmaker with 42 assists this season. Over their last five matches, the Devils have been effective in attack, averaging 3.4 goals per game, which has contributed to their strong position, currently third in the Metropolitan Division. The Devils are eager to maintain their unbeaten record against the Penguins, especially aiming for a significant away victory. Overall, the team's offensive prowess is evident as they average 3.1 goals per game throughout the season.

NHL Best Bets and Odds for December 29, 2024