Every sport has the sort of match-up that Pittsburgh and New Jersey are sharing right now, with the Penguins unable to find a way of beating their rivals so far this season, regardless of the form that the Devils are in.

Devils hoodoo for Pittsburgh

Sydney Crosby and co were strong favourites to make it third time lucky back in January but came unstuck again in a 6-3 defeat on home ice, making it two out of two for the Devils at the PPG Paints Arena – remarkable for a side that has only won eight times on the road this season.

Their success over the Pens flies in the face of the standings with New Jersey holding little hope of making the play-offs – 15 points behind Montreal who occupy the last wildcard place – but, while their most recent win in Pittsburgh snapped a three-game losing streak, Andy Hynes’ men go into this latest encounter with a little bit of form, having won their last two.

Home advantage means they are not as big a price as last time, having beaten Pittsburgh 4-2 previously at the Prudential Center, but it certainly wouldn’t be the biggest surprise if they were to upset the odds at 2.15, with Pittsburgh the favourites at 1.74.

St Louis to give Leafs the Blues

There is no team hotter than St Louis Blues right now, finding a rich vein of form that has seen their odds for Stanley Cup glory slashed to 23.00.

Their run may have come at a good time for them win the Western Conference – for which they are priced at 13.00 – and their form is trending nicely for a run at the big one.

The Blues have won their last 10 matches, beating Nashville Predators – one place above them in the Central Division – twice, as well as inflicting a shutout win over the NHL’s top scorers and Stanley Cup favourites, Tampa Bay Lightning.

They face another stern test with the visit of Toronto Maple Leafs in what is arguably the toughest match to call on Wednesday but they can justify marginal favouritism at 1.90 to land the spoils.

Vladimir Tarasenko has been hitting the high notes for the Blues recently, with 13 points in his last five games, while St Louis have won the last five meetings with the Leafs, winning 4-1 in Toronto in their only encounter this season.

Toronto have been in good form of late, winning seven of their last ten, and it would be no surprise should they emerge from the Enterprise Center with the two points at 1.95.

However, they go into the clash on the back of a 2-0 defeat to Arizona Coyotes, hardly the confidence boost needed to face the on-fire Blues.

Ducks look too big to ignore

There has been very little to like about Anaheim Ducks this season, particularly after what looked like a solid start evaporated pretty quickly.

Head coach Randy Carlyle paid for a dismal run of results with his job, with general manager Bob Murray deciding to step behind the bench for the rest of the season.

Whether this move has the desired effect only time will tell but it won’t be for a lack of intensity as the Ducks look to close what is only a five-point gap to the wildcard places.

The Ducks had of course not been in great form but with Murray at the helm they have won two out of three and look a huge price to down the Minnesota Wild.

The Ducks are priced at 3.15 to earn what would be Murray’s first road victory but they did win 3-0 at the Xcel Energy Center last month, with Minnesota the surprisingly strong favourites at 1.38 to gain revenge.

The Wild did win 5-1 in Anaheim back in November but their recent form is not strong, having won just one of their last nine, while they have lost their last five at home – albeit with two of those after overtime.

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