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Penguins vs. Devils prediction: Pittsburgh favored to win Thursday's NHL matchup [4/9/2026]
Updated: | First published:
Written by Nick Slade, Chief Content Officer
Get Pittsburgh Penguins vs New Jersey Devils predictions for NHL Thursday.
The New Jersey Devils will take on the Pittsburgh Penguins, in what is expected to be a close NHL game, at Prudential Center on Thursday, beginning at 7:00 PM ET.
Based on the latest simulations, Dimers' proven NHL model gives the Penguins a slight edge with a 51% win probability over the Devils.
This article offers further insights into Thursday's Penguins vs. Devils matchup, including projected goal scorers, best bets and player prop picks.
Penguins vs. Devils prediction: Who will win and cover?
Using powerful machine learning and data, we have simulated the outcome of Thursday's NHL game between the Penguins and Devils, forming part of our NHL predictions coverage.
Our leading predictive model gives the Penguins a 51% chance of beating the Devils.
According to our model, the Devils (+1.5) have a 69% chance of covering the puck line, while the 6.5-goal over/under has a 51% chance of staying under.
Penguins vs. Devils odds
We have sourced the best NHL odds in America for this game, which are listed here:
| Bet Type | Penguins | Devils |
|---|---|---|
| Puck Line | -1.5 (+195) | +1.5 (-260) |
| Moneyline | -110 | -110 |
| Total | o6.5 (-130) | u6.5 (+110) |
All odds are correct at the time of publication and are subject to change.
Penguins vs. Devils picks and best bet
After matching our probabilities against the best available 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 | Devils +1.5 | -260 |
| Moneyline | Penguins | -110 |
| Total | Under 6.5 | +110 |
According to our NHL best bets, the top play to make on this game is Under 6.5 total goals.
These picks are based on our probabilities matched against the implied probabilities from the sportsbook odds.
Penguins vs. Devils player props
Who will score a goal in Penguins vs. Devils?
According to our model, Jack Hughes is most likely to score an anytime goal in Penguins vs. Devils.
Our projections give Hughes a 39.4% chance of scoring a goal at Prudential Center, while the star is a 7.8% chance of netting the first goal the game.
Anytime goal scorer predictions
Pittsburgh Penguins
| Player | Anytime Goal Probability |
|---|---|
| Rickard Rakell | 34.0% |
| Bryan Rust | 30.8% |
| Egor Chinakhov | 27.2% |
| Sidney Crosby | 26.9% |
| Anthony Mantha | 26.9% |
New Jersey Devils
| Player | Anytime Goal Probability |
|---|---|
| Jack Hughes | 39.4% |
| Timo Meier | 33.3% |
| Nico Hischier | 33.0% |
| Jesper Bratt | 28.2% |
| Dawson Mercer | 23.1% |
First goal scorer predictions
Pittsburgh Penguins
| Player | First Goal Probability |
|---|---|
| Rickard Rakell | 6.4% |
| Bryan Rust | 6.4% |
| Anthony Mantha | 5.4% |
| Egor Chinakhov | 5.2% |
| Sidney Crosby | 5.1% |
New Jersey Devils
| Player | First Goal Probability |
|---|---|
| Jack Hughes | 7.8% |
| Timo Meier | 6.9% |
| Nico Hischier | 6.2% |
| Jesper Bratt | 5.1% |
| Dawson Mercer | 4.4% |
Penguins vs. Devils game-day updates and essential details
Thursday's action between the Devils and Penguins at Prudential Center is scheduled to start at 7:00 PM ET.
- Who: Pittsburgh Penguins vs. New Jersey Devils
- Date: Thursday, April 9, 2026
- Time: 7:00 PM ET/4:00PM PT
- Venue: Prudential Center
Conclusion
We predict the Penguins, with a 51% win probability, will likely beat the Devils in Thursday's NHL matchup.
Additional tools and information for betting safely can be found in our Responsible Gambling hub.
Nick Slade, with nearly two decades of experience, is the Chief Content Officer at Cipher Sports Technology Group, overseeing content for Dimers. He specializes in soccer, NBA, and NHL betting, leveraging predictive analytics and machine learning to provide accurate betting insights.
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