The New Jersey Devils (11-4-1) and Chicago Blackhawks (8-5-3) meet in the NHL tonight. Puck drop is set for 9:37 p.m. EST at the United Center in Chicago, Ill. The game will be broadcast live on TNT.
The Devils are priced at +160 to cover the puck line, with the over/under set at 6 (O -115 /U -105). The Devils are priced at -155 to win outright, while the scrappy young Blackhawks are priced at +135 to pull off another upset.
Let's get into my Devils vs. Blackhawks predictions and NHL picks.
Devils vs. Blackhawks Odds, Pick
| Devils Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 +160 | 6.5 110o / -130u | -155 |
| Blackhawks Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -192 | 6.5 110o / -130u | +130 |
- Devils vs. Blackhawks Spread: -1.5 (+160), +1.5 (-192)
- Devils vs. Blackhawks Over/Under: 6 (O +110 /U -130)
- Devils vs. Blackhawks Moneyline: Devils -155, Blackhawks +130
Devils vs. Blackhawks Preview
New Jersey Devils
Head coach Sheldon Keefe's Devils were favored to finish exactly second in the Metropolitan Division entering the season, and through 16 games, it seems a near-lock that they will finish either first or second in the division barring significant injuries. New Jersey took considerable steps forward defensively last season in Keefe's debut campaign but fell off down the stretch while dealing with an awful injury situation, including the absence of Hart-caliber forward Jack Hughes.
The Devils allowed only 25.64 shots against per 60 last season and 2.46 xGA/60 in even-strength play. Depth scoring was a significant concern, but it was clear that Keefe's defensive systems were effective, and top forwards such as Hughes and Jesper Bratt did show strong development in terms of their play away from the puck.
New Jersey has been trending well from a defensive perspective recently, as over the last five games it has allowed only 3.05 xGA/60 and 2.4 goals against per game where it counts. They have played the seventh-hardest schedule overall this season, which has included numerous matchups against teams that have started the year in excellent form offensively.
The Devils' top six has the offensive firepower to steal higher-scoring affairs, and when Douglas Hamilton is healthy, their defensive core's greatest strength is its ability to move the puck up the ice and jump up in the attack. Still, Keefe has clearly placed an onus on the team's defensive play, and their bottom six does lack offensive upside.
Jacob Markstrom is expected to start in goal for the Devils in this matchup. Though Markstrom is considered the team's number-one option and has had an excellent career, he has been outperformed by backup Jake Allen in each of the last two seasons. Markstrom holds an .872 save percentage and 3.82 GAA in seven appearances this season.
Chicago Blackhawks
Betting on the Blackhawks to win in each of their first 16 games this season would have yielded a +27% ROI. They were priced as the odds-on favorite to finish dead last in the NHL entering the season but, at 8-5-3, are currently holding down the Western Conference's top Wildcard seed.
Connor Bedard has put up 25 points in the first 16 games and is now living up to the hype of being a borderline generational player. Bedard's tremendous play has stolen the majority of the headlines, but Spencer Knight's exceptional work in goal has been equally important to the team's surprising level of success.
Knight leads the league with a +13.3 GSAx rating in his first 11 appearances and holds a save percentage of .926. While it is surprising that Knight has been this dominant, he was quietly quite effective last season, playing to a +6.9 GSAx rating across 38 games with the Florida Panthers and Blackhawks, and was once regarded as the best goaltending prospect in hockey.
While the Blackhawks rank 11th in the NHL in terms of actual goals scored per game, their underlying results suggest significant regression is on the horizon, which is not surprising given that their roster was generally expected to be one of the least productive units in the league this season.
At this point to reevaluate the Blackhawks' offensive upside to some extent because of Bedard's excellent play and the development of the team's young defensive core, but they still do not seem likely to be an above-average team offensively the rest of the way.
The Blackhawks have generated just 3.01 xGF/60 this season, which ranks 28th in the NHL. They have scored on 13.14% of shots taken this season, which is the fifth-highest mark in the league, but do not project as a likely candidate to finish scoring opportunities at a higher than average rate.
Chicago's offensive upside is also worsened currently, as regular second-line center Frank Nazar is sidelined due to injury. Nazar has generated 11 points in 15 games this season and was the most important skater on the team's second line, which currently looks much less formidable with Ryan Greene skating in Nazar's vacated role.
Devils vs. Blackhawks Prediction
Head coach Jeff Blashill's young side has overachieved at both ends of the ice this season, but I'm more sold on the idea that they will come down to earth defensively. Though they are controlling little of the overall run of play as expected, they have done a fairly decent job of limiting true defensive breakdowns, while Knight is saving essentially everything he is supposed to and then some.
With Nazar sidelined, the Blackhawks look particularly one-dimensional offensively, and the Devils should have a good chance of shutting down Bedard's unit in tonight's game, as they will attempt to stick Selke-level center Nico Hischier's unit out against Chicago's top line as much as possible.
I don't think that the Blackhawks will be able to generate much offense on Wednesday in a tough matchup versus one of the NHL's best defensive sides, but with Knight in goal, they should be capable of making this into a fairly competitive game.
Four of the Devils' last five games have gone under the total, and this seems to be a good spot to ride with that trend as they take on a Blackhawks side that has overachieved offensively, given the price of -105 to back under six goals.
Pick: Under 6 Goals -105 (Bet365, Play to -115)
