Gila River Arena plays host to an East-West tilt as the New Jersey Devils face off against the Arizona Coyotes. It’s the last time that these two clubs will go at it in the regular season. The opening face-off takes place at 8 p.m. ET on Saturday, December 2, and fans at home are able to catch it live on Fox Sports Arizona.
New Jersey Devils at Arizona Coyotes Odds
New Jersey is 15-10 straight up (SU) and has netted 6.8 units for moneyline bettors this season. Through 25 regular season contests, 13 of its games have gone over the total, while 11 have gone under and none have pushed. The Devils are 9-4 SU as the road team in 2017-18.
New Jersey has converted on 22.5 percent of its power play opportunities this year, a mark that places them in the top-10 among NHL teams. Its penalty kill is ranked 15th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 80.9 percent of all penalties.
The Devils, as a collective unit, have been called for penalties 4.3 times per game overall in the 2017-18 season, and 3.0 per game over its last five on the road. The team has been forced to kill penalties just 7.4 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Averaging 30.1 saves per game with a .920 save percentage, Cory Schneider (11-8-3) has been the primary option in goal for New Jersey this year. Schneider did just play last night, however, so New Jersey could choose to rest him and turn to Keith Kinkaid instead (5-3-1 record, .906 save percentage, 3.05 goals against average).
The visiting Devils have relied on Taylor Hall and Will Butcher this season. Hall (27 points) has tallied eight goals and 19 assists, and has recorded multiple points seven times. Butcher has two goals and 16 assists to his creditand has registered a point in 13 games.
On the other side of the ice, Arizona is 6-22 straight up (SU) and has lost 14.1 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 28 regular season matches, 14 of its games have gone under the total, while 13 have gone over and just one has pushed. This season, the team is 2-9 SU at home.
The Coyotes have converted on just 16.8 percent of their power play chances this season, a figure that’s ranked 26th in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 16th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 80.3 percent of all penalties.
Arizona players have been penalized only 3.2 times per game in total this season, and 2.2 per game over their last five at home. The team’s had to defend opponent power plays just 7.0 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Antti Raanta (23.8 saves per game) has been the primary option in goal for the Coyotes. Raanta has four wins, nine losses, and two OT losses and has registered a .914 save percentage and 2.84 goals against average this season.
The home team will be led on offense by Clayton Keller (11 goals, 10 assists).
New Jersey Devils vs. Arizona Coyotes Betting Picks
Predictions: SU Winner – Coyotes, O/U – Under
Notes
Betting Trends
Arizona is 1-1 in games decided by a shootout this season while New Jersey is 2-2 in shootouts.
The total has gone under in four of Arizona’s last five outings.
Arizona has averaged 2.4 goals per game overall this season, but has been averaging 1.3 goals per matchup over its three-game losing streak.
Over Arizona’s last ten outings, six of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 1-5 in those games).
The Coyotes this season have handed the eighth-most hits per game (23.6).
