Taylor Hall and the Devils pay a visit to Edmonton. Nashville and Anaheim meet for a Western Conference Final rematch. It’s time for our NHL Daily Predictions.
| Devils vs Oilers ML +140 / -160 O/U 5.5 |
Predators vs Ducks ML -110 / -110 O/U 5 |
Here are tonight’s starting goaltenders, courtesy of LeftWingLock.
Devils vs Oilers: The New Jersey Devils have now rattled off three wins in a row and are the top seed in the Metro Division. They are a point ahead of the Pittsburgh Penguins.
With three games in hand, no less.
Their most recent triumph was a 2-0 shutout against the Canucks in Vancouver. Jimmy Hayes got the Devils on the board with his third goal of the season with a boomer of a slapshot. After the Canucks fanned on a shot attempt, Hayes hit Taylor Hall in stride with a clean stretch pass. Hall’s initial shot was saved with a lively rebound bouncing all the way to the far side mid-boards.
Hayes brought up the rear and fired home a slap shot.
Drew Stafford capped things off with an empty netter and the Devils improved to 9-2-0.
It’s a year in the tri-state area where teams that are supposedly rebuilding or not trying their hardest to win very much with their roster construction are exceeding expectations. The Yankees took an alleged rebuilding year and made it to Game 7 of the American League Championship Series. The Jets were supposed to tank for a top pick in the NFL draft and instead just got done with a thorough beatdown of the Buffalo Bills to improve to 4-5.
And now we have the New Jersey Devils.
Former Oiler Taylor Hall leads the Devils with 12 assists and 15 points. He has found the right supporting cast where he is not relied on to score every night- he just has to work his magic and set his teammates up for the kill.
Will Butcher continues to impress with 11 assists in 11 games. He has yet to tally his first NHL goal, but you have to figure that it’s coming soon. Butcher skates on the third pair with Mirco Mueller but has looked like a future top-four player for sure. He is still finding his footing in the defensive zone and is playing sheltered minutes (12-16 a night) but boy oh boy, can that kid move the puck.
Another kid making a name for himself is Jesper Bratt. The 19-year-old former 6th-rounder had himself a three-point night against the Arizona Coyotes earlier this week, placing him third on the team in scoring. Where did this kid come from? How did he work his way onto the second line with Adam Henrique and Marcus Johansson? And how is he outscoring both of them?
While we’re asking questions, how in the world is Brian flippin’ Gibbons leading this team in goals? Explain how a 29-year-old who had five career goals coming into this year has equalled that figure in just 11 games.
Perhaps what’s even scarier is that we have not seen the best out of Cory Schneider yet. He’s looked good enough to go 6-1 and has a .921 save percentage, but Schneids still can be better. That can only mean good things. The best is yet to come.
Edmonton is trending in the wrong direction. The only thing separating them from the bottom of the barrel is the Arizona Coyotes.
They are the worst offense in the National Hockey League. Yes. Worse than Arizona, worse than Buffalo, worse than Vancouver…
The team is getting frustrated, and it shows. Leon Draisaitl is working hard to get back to his usual self after missing time with a concussion. He has five points in four games back from injury. Connor McDavid has 13 points in 11 games and Patrick Maroon still benefits from being on his line.
Where is everyone else at, huh?
Feel good about that Kris Russell contract yet?
Things are bad for the Oilers, and it would only get worse with a loss tonight to the New Jersey Devils. Factor in that Hall is going to be excited to play against his former club and this could be another rough night if not played carefully.
Hall had an assist last year in a 3-2 overtime loss in Edmonton, his first trip back.
The oddsmakers are looking at Draisaitl turning a corner and the team playing close games as a sign things are turning around. They still have only won two home games this season.
I like the Devils at +140.
Prediction: Take the Devils to win. Play the under.
Predators vs Ducks: Neither the Nashville Predators nor Anaheim Ducks are quite where they thought they would be in the Western Conference Standings. Both are on the outside of the playoff picture looking in, with surprise teams taking their place in their respective divisions.
Vegas still sits in second place in the Pacific Division despite a three game losing streak. The Colorado Avalanche are staying afloat as the third seed in the Central.
Nashville’s Californian road trip got off to a lackluster start on Wednesday night in San Jose. Neither team dominated the possession game, as both had only 12 even-strength shots on goal the entire game. Pekka Rinne stopped only nine of those 12 even-strength shots on the Preds lost a clunker, 4-1.
The Anaheim Ducks had a similarly frustrating Wednesday. Returning home after going 3-1 on a road trip, they beat Frederik Andersen just once and lost 3-1. Patrick Marleau, longtime enemy of the Ducks, netted the game-winner. Anaheim failed to score in the second period despite generating 17 shots on goal to the Leafs’ six.
Nashville has had a hard time winning on the road. They usually have a hard time scoring, which may not be such a bad thing tonight. Anaheim has had the under hit five of their last six home games.
Don’t expect a high-flying offensive matchup like the Western Conference Final was last year between these two teams. This will be a goaltending battle.
John Gibson has a .927 save percentage at home this season. Advantage Ducks.
Prediction: Take Anaheim to win. Play the under.
