Devils vs. Penguins prediction: Why Pittsburgh is favored to win Thursday's NHL matchup [2/26/2026]

The Pittsburgh Penguins will square off with the New Jersey Devils in NHL action at PPG Paints Arena on Thursday, beginning at 7:00 PM ET.

Based on the latest simulation results, Dimers' proven NHL model predicts the Penguins as the most likely winner of the Devils vs. Penguins game.

This article offers further insights into Thursday's matchup, including projected goal scorers, best bets and player prop picks.

Devils vs. Penguins prediction: Who will win and cover?

Using innovative machine learning and data analysis, we have simulated the outcome of Thursday's NHL matchup between the Devils and Penguins 10,000 times as part of our NHL predictions coverage.

Our independent predictive model gives the Penguins a 59% chance of defeating the Devils.

According to our model, the Devils (+1.5) have a 63% chance of covering the puck line, while the 5.5-goal over/under has a 54% chance of going over.

Devils vs. Penguins odds

We have researched the best NHL odds in America for this game, which are listed here:

Bet Type	Devils	Penguins
Puck Line	+1.5 (-190)	-1.5 (+164)
Moneyline	+136	-160
Total	o5.5 (-130)	u5.5 (+110)

All odds are correct at the time of publication and are subject to change.

Devils vs. Penguins picks and best bet

After matching our probabilities against the best current odds, we can reveal our picks for each of the major markets. Plus, find our best bet for the game below:

Bet Type	Pick	Bet Now
Puck Line	Penguins -1.5	+164
Moneyline	Devils	+136
Total	Under 5.5	+110

According to our NHL best bets, the top play to make on this game is Penguins -1.5 at the spread.

These picks are based on our probabilities matched against the implied probabilities from the sportsbook odds.

Devils vs. Penguins player props

Who will score a goal in Devils vs. Penguins?

According to our model, Nico Hischier is most likely to score an anytime goal in Devils vs. Penguins.

Our projections give Hischier a 31.7% chance of scoring a goal at PPG Paints Arena, while the star is a 6.3% chance of netting the first goal the game.

Anytime goal scorer predictions

New Jersey Devils

Player	Anytime Goal Probability
Nico Hischier	31.7%
Timo Meier	29.4%
Jesper Bratt	28.2%
Jack Hughes	23.8%
Arseny Gritsyuk	18.6%

Pittsburgh Penguins

Player	Anytime Goal Probability
Bryan Rust	31.5%
Rickard Rakell	31.1%
Avery Hayes	30.5%
Anthony Mantha	24.3%
Evgeni Malkin	23.5%

First goal scorer predictions

New Jersey Devils

Player	First Goal Probability
Nico Hischier	6.3%
Timo Meier	5.6%
Jesper Bratt	5.5%
Jack Hughes	5.0%
Arseny Gritsyuk	3.9%

Pittsburgh Penguins

Player	First Goal Probability
Bryan Rust	6.0%
Rickard Rakell	5.9%
Avery Hayes	5.8%
Anthony Mantha	4.6%
Evgeni Malkin	4.1%

Devils vs. Penguins game-day updates and essential details

Thursday's action between the Penguins and Devils at PPG Paints Arena is scheduled to commence at 7:00 PM ET.

• Who: New Jersey Devils vs. Pittsburgh Penguins
• Date: Thursday, February 26, 2026
• Time: 7:00 PM ET/4:00PM PT
• Venue: PPG Paints Arena

Conclusion

We predict the Penguins, with a 59% win probability, will likely beat the Devils on Thursday.

AI and automation have enhanced this article to quickly deliver accurate Devils vs. Penguins insights, with human oversight ensuring high editorial quality. Our predictions are sourced from the latest data to help you make informed decisions. For additional resources and advice on responsible gambling, please call 1-800-GAMBLER.

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