G78 New Jersey Devils vs Pittsburgh Penguins: Expect offense

Last game the Devils were blown out for the first time this season. How will they respond?

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A few notes to get you set for Devils vs Penguins:

Goals, goals, goals

If you like offense, this is probably going to be the game for you. I know the Penguins are playing for a lot and have incentive to fight for every inch at both ends. I know the Devils were just blown out of the rink for the first time this season. I know, on the surface, this seems like a spot where both teams will tighten the screws and play a more conservative game. But the numbers suggest we’re going to see plenty of goals in this one.

Over the past 10 games, the Devils and Penguins have generated high-danger chances at an unmatched rate league-wide. They have both created more than 17 per 60 minutes of 5v5 play; no other team is even at 16.

With so much firepower on the receiving end of all these chances – Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Jake Guentzel, Jack Hughes, Timo Meier, Nico Hischier, etc, etc. – there are bound to be goals; especially with the goaltending matchup we’re likely to see.

64 netminders have logged at least 300 minutes in goal since February 1st. Among them, Tristan Jarry and Vitek Vanecek rank 60th and 63rd in high-danger save percentage. The latter has been a little better of late but, generally speaking, both guys have struggled against top tier chances.

And, again, there isn’t a team in the league generating more high-danger looks than the Devils and Penguins over the past 10.

If recent trends are any indication, these offenses are going to create a lot of top-tier looks; and the goaltenders will struggle to stop them.

New D pairings!