Pittsburgh Penguins at New Jersey Devils (NA)
The Pens go for their 11th straight win Saturday. They have moved to within four points of the Atlantic Division-leading New York Rangers. This is the fifth of six meetings between the clubs, with the Devils winning the last three games by an 11-4 margin.
Pittsburgh welcomed captain Sidney Crosby back on Thursday and the superstar helped the Penguins to a 5-2 win over the Rangers with two assists and a plus-3 rating. Crosby had been out for more than three months with a nagging concussion/neck injury. Pittsburgh was also boosted by the return of defenseman Kris Letang, who also had been sidelined with concussion symptoms. He had an assist and was a plus-5.
When the NHL season rolls into March, teams rely heavily on goaltending and New Jersey has little worry with future Hall-of-Famer Martin Brodeur. On Thursday, Brodeur recorded his second shutout of the season and 118th of his career. New Jersey’s Ilya Kovalchuk set the NHL single-season record on Thursday with his seventh shootout-winning goal. He has converted 10 times on 12 attempts.
The home team is 8-1 in the last nine meetings.
Pick: Devils ---
St. Louis Blues at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (130, 5.5)The Blues have dropped two straight – one in a shootout – since their season-high, five-game win streak. They need one victory to reach 100 points for the first time since 2000-01.
The Blues top the league in goals-against, and the Lightning stand at the bottom. St. Louis is 6-2-1 in its last nine road games.
Tampa Bay’s playoff hopes took a very damaging blow in a 3-1 loss to struggling Toronto on home ice Thursday. The Lightning have just 12 games left and may need to win almost all of them. Steven Stamkos was held scoreless by the Leafs to fall one point behind Pittsburgh’s Evgeni Malkin for the league lead. Stamkos has 50 goals, one away from his career high and two shy of Vincent Lecavalier’s team record.
Forward Nate Thompson suffered an upper-body injury against Toronto and is doubtful against the Blues.
The Blues beat Tampa Bay 3-0 at home Nov. 12, allowing just 19 shots.
Pick: Blues +++

The Pens go for their 11th straight win Saturday. They have moved to within four points of the Atlantic Division-leading New York Rangers. This is the fifth of six meetings between the clubs, with the Devils winning the last three games by an 11-4 margin.
Pittsburgh welcomed captain Sidney Crosby back on Thursday and the superstar helped the Penguins to a 5-2 win over the Rangers with two assists and a plus-3 rating. Crosby had been out for more than three months with a nagging concussion/neck injury. Pittsburgh was also boosted by the return of defenseman Kris Letang, who also had been sidelined with concussion symptoms. He had an assist and was a plus-5.
When the NHL season rolls into March, teams rely heavily on goaltending and New Jersey has little worry with future Hall-of-Famer Martin Brodeur. On Thursday, Brodeur recorded his second shutout of the season and 118th of his career. New Jersey’s Ilya Kovalchuk set the NHL single-season record on Thursday with his seventh shootout-winning goal. He has converted 10 times on 12 attempts.
The home team is 8-1 in the last nine meetings.
Pick: Devils ---
St. Louis Blues at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (130, 5.5)The Blues have dropped two straight – one in a shootout – since their season-high, five-game win streak. They need one victory to reach 100 points for the first time since 2000-01.
The Blues top the league in goals-against, and the Lightning stand at the bottom. St. Louis is 6-2-1 in its last nine road games.
Tampa Bay’s playoff hopes took a very damaging blow in a 3-1 loss to struggling Toronto on home ice Thursday. The Lightning have just 12 games left and may need to win almost all of them. Steven Stamkos was held scoreless by the Leafs to fall one point behind Pittsburgh’s Evgeni Malkin for the league lead. Stamkos has 50 goals, one away from his career high and two shy of Vincent Lecavalier’s team record.
Forward Nate Thompson suffered an upper-body injury against Toronto and is doubtful against the Blues.
The Blues beat Tampa Bay 3-0 at home Nov. 12, allowing just 19 shots.
Pick: Blues +++

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