Prediction, Odds, and Starting Goalies for Penguins vs Utah in Wednesday Night Hockey

• The Pittsburgh Penguins (20-24-8) visit the Utah Hockey Club (21-21-7) on Wednesday, January 29, 2025
• We’ve made our Penguins vs Utah prediction for Wednesday night hockey on TNT
• Read below for Penguins vs Utah prediction, preview and odds for tonight’s game

A pair of struggling teams meet in Salt Lake City as the Pittsburgh Penguins (20-24-8) take on the Utah Hockey Club (21-21-7) at Delta Center on Wednesday, January 29, 2025. Puck drop is scheduled for 9:30 PM Eastern Time, with national coverage on TNT.

The Hockey Club are short home favorites at -142 on the moneyline, while the total is set at 6.0 goals. Will the desperate Penguins and Hockey Club light the lamp early and often in this clash?

Here’s our Penguins vs Utah prediction for Wednesday Night Hockey.

Penguins vs Utah Prediction

I’m backing over 1.5 goals in the first period at -130 odds in what should be a fast-paced, high-scoring affair. Both the Penguins and Hockey Club are reeling right now and urgently need a win. Pittsburgh has lost three straight while being outscored 11-3. Utah has dropped two in a row.

That desperation, coupled with some shaky goaltending, sets the stage for an action-packed opening frame. The Penguins’ Alex Nedeljkovic owns a dismal 3.21 GAA and .894 save percentage on the season. While he played well last game, Nedeljkovic has been consistently unreliable.

Meanwhile, Utah’s Connor Ingram hasn’t been much better, sporting an ugly 3.34 GAA and .880 save percentage. He surrendered four goals on just 28 shots in his last outing. With two vulnerable netminders between the pipes, expect a flurry of early scoring chances.

The total has gone over in four of Utah’s last five games when playing as the favorite. The Hockey Club have the firepower to exploit weak defenses and engage in high-scoring affairs. Just look at the first meeting between these teams, which Utah won 6-1 despite only outshooting Pittsburgh 30-28.

The Penguins are also due for some positive regression after posting an unlucky 0.973 PDO over their last 10 games. Their offense is better than its recent numbers suggest and should break out against Ingram and Utah’s average defense.

Bet on the first period to feature a fast pace and multiple goals as two motivated clubs look to seize early momentum. At plus odds, the over 1.5 is solid value.

Wednesday NHL Pick:

• First Period Over 1.5 Goals (-130 at Bet365)

Penguins vs Utah Odds

The Hockey Club sit as -142 home favorites on the moneyline, meaning a $142 bet would net you $100 in profit if Utah wins. The Penguins are +120 underdogs, offering a potential $120 return on a $100 wager.

Pittsburgh is -194 to cover the +1.5 puck line, so they need to either win outright or lose by a single goal for that bet to cash. Meanwhile, Utah is +156 to prevail by two or more goals.

The total is set at 6 goals, with the over and under both priced at -110. This suggests oddsmakers are expecting a relatively high-scoring contest.

Odds courtesy of Bet365 Sportsbook as of January 29, 2025.

Penguins vs Utah Projected Starting Goalies

Here’s who we expect between the pipes for Wednesday’s Penguins vs Utah tilt:

Pittsburgh Penguins: Alex Nedeljkovic (9-9-4, 3.21 GAA, .894 SV%)
Nedeljkovic has struggled mightily in his first season as Pittsburgh’s starter. The 28-year-old owns a poor 3.21 GAA and .894 save percentage through 22 appearances. He’s allowed at least three goals in nine of his last 11 outings.

While Nedeljkovic played well last game, making 26 saves on 28 shots in a 2-1 loss to San Jose, it’s hard to trust him given his season-long inconsistency. He surrendered six goals on 30 shots in his first meeting with Utah back in November.

Utah Hockey Club: Connor Ingram (8-6-3, 3.34 GAA, .880 SV%)
Ingram has provided little relief for Utah in goal. The 26-year-old backup sports an ugly 3.34 GAA and .880 save percentage in 17 starts. He was blitzed for four goals on 28 shots in his last appearance, a 5-2 loss to Winnipeg.

To his credit, Ingram has shown some improvement since returning from injury, posting a .908 save percentage over his last four games. Still, those are hardly inspiring numbers. The Penguins will have ample opportunities to solve him early.

Neither Nedeljkovic nor Ingram instills much confidence. In a battle between two scuffling teams and vulnerable netminders, bank on the offenses to come out firing. Expect a fast-paced, high-scoring first period as both clubs push the pace in search of a crucial win.

The Pittsburgh Penguins are set to take on the Utah Jazz in Wednesday night’s hockey game, and fans are buzzing with excitement. Both teams have been performing well this season, making this matchup one to watch.

In terms of predictions, it’s always difficult to say for sure who will come out on top in any given game. However, the Penguins have been on a hot streak lately, winning their last five games in a row. With star players like Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin leading the charge, the Penguins have a strong chance of coming out victorious in this matchup.

On the other hand, the Utah Jazz have also been playing well this season, currently sitting in second place in their division. With players like Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert leading the way, the Jazz have a solid lineup that could give the Penguins a run for their money.

As for the odds, sportsbooks currently have the Penguins as slight favorites to win this game. However, anything can happen in hockey, so it’s always important to take these odds with a grain of salt.

In terms of starting goalies, it’s likely that Tristan Jarry will be between the pipes for the Penguins, while Mike Conley is expected to start for the Jazz. Both goalies have been playing well this season, so it should be an interesting matchup to see who comes out on top.

Overall, Wednesday night’s game between the Penguins and Jazz is shaping up to be an exciting one. With both teams playing well and plenty on the line, fans can expect a thrilling matchup that could go either way. Be sure to tune in to see who comes out on top in this highly anticipated showdown.