On paper, everything looks just fine for the New Jersey Devils.
The Devils are 7-1-2 in their last 10 and still have a three point lead (with a game in hand) over the New York Rangers for second-place in the Metropolitan Division. They’re going to cruise into the playoffs and even though they’re missing Jack Hughes with an injury, he’s scheduled to be back well before the postseason begins and the team was able to get three out of four points without Hughes so far.
All seems well in Jersey. Or does it?
Devils vs. Blue Jackets prediction
7:30 p.m., MSG and ESPN+
While the Devils are still winning games and banking points at an impressive clip, their process does look a bit wonky. New Jersey is 6-1-2 in its last nine, but five of its wins came after regulation and seven of its last nine games were decided after 60 minutes.
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Full credit to the Devils for continuing to get results, but playing tight games every night is not a recipe for sustained success if you’re expected to be one of the strongest teams in the NHL. The Devils are not getting separation anymore and are relying on some terrific goaltending to earn points.
New Jersey’s goaltenders have put up a .915 save percentage over the team’s current 10-1-2 stretch.
Goalies are part of the team so it’s not fair to just ignore their form, but the point remains that one or two bad bounces, or a few less saves, and the Devils’ recent form could look a lot uglier.
Nothing in the numbers will suggest that the Blue Jackets are likely to win this game, but that’s not really what you’re asking out of Columbus as a +165 home underdog. Instead, you’re just hoping that the Jackets can hang around and turn this game into a tight contest that’s decided by a bounce or a moment of magic. Lately, the Jackets have been able to do that against some terrific opponents.
Columbus is just 5-9-2 in its last 16 contests, but in that stretch the Jackets have wins over Toronto, Carolina and Edmonton and overtime losses against Washington and Calgary. The Blue Jackets are one of the worst teams in the NHL, but they’re showing some signs of life of late.
Betting on the NHL?
This bet isn’t really about the Blue Jackets as much as it is about the Devils. New Jersey is still winning games at an impressive clip, but there does seem to be something amiss with how the Devils are playing. New Jersey has skated to a 42.7% expected goals rate over its last 10 games, which ranks 29th in the entire league in that span.
Their record may not show it, but now is the right time to try and beat the Devils with some big underdogs.
Devils vs. Blue Jackets pick
Columbus Blue Jackets +165 (BetMGM)
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