Two teams currently on losing streaks, the New Jersey Devils and the Chicago Blackhawks meet at the United Center for an East-West showdown. The opening face-off takes place at 7 p.m. ET on Sunday, November 12, and it is being televised live on NBC Sports Chicago.
New Jersey Devils vs. Chicago Blackhawks Odds
New Jersey is 9-6 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 4.7 units this season. Nine of its matches have gone over the total, while six have gone under and none have pushed. As a road team in 2017-18, the Devils are 5-2 SU.
New Jersey has converted on 21.6 percent of its power play opportunities this season, a mark that’s good enough for ninth-best in the NHL. Additionally, its penalty kill is ranked 14th overall, and the team’s successfully killed off 81.3 percent of its penalties.
For the team as a whole, the Devils have been sent to the penalty box 4.7 times per game during the 2017-18 season, a number that is up a bit from last year’s 4.0 penalties per game. After serving an average of 10.0 penalty minutes per game a season ago the team has been forced to kill penalties for 11.3 minutes per outing this year.
Boasting a .918 save percentage and 32.6 saves per game, Cory Schneider (7-4-1) has been the primary option in goal for New Jersey this season. If New Jersey chooses to rest him, however, the team could turn to Keith Kinkaid (3-2-1 record, .903 save percentage, 2.88 goals against average).
Taylor Hall and Jesper Bratt will both lead the offensive attack for the visiting Devils. Hall has 17 points on five goals and 12 assists, and has recorded two or more points four times. Bratt has five goals and seven assists to his creditand has logged at least one point in seven games.
Chicago is 7-9 straight up (SU) and has lost 3.9 units for moneyline bettors this year. Eight of its games have gone under the total, while seven have gone over and just one has pushed. So far this year, the team’s 4-4 SU as the home team.
The Blackhawks have converted on just 13.0 percent of their power play opportunities this year, a figure that places them in the bottom 5 overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked seventh overall, and it’s successfully killed off 83.9 percent of all penalties.
Chicago players have been penalized 4.4 times per game in total this season, and 3.4 per game over their past five games. The team’s been forced to stave off opponent power plays just 8.9 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Corey Crawford has stopped 29.0 shots per game as the top netminder in goal for the Blackhawks. Crawford has seven wins and seven losses to his credit and has recorded a solid 1.87 goals against average and a .942 save percentage this season.
Patrick Kane (five goals, nine assists) will lead the offensive attack for Chi-town.
New Jersey Devils vs. Chicago Blackhawks Free Picks
Predictions: SU Winner – Blackhawks, O/U – Over
Betting Notes
- The under has hit in four of Chicago’s last five outings.
- New Jersey has managed 31.0 shot attempts per game over its last five road games while Chicago is averaging 36.6 shots per game over its last five at home.
- Four of New Jersey’s last ten games have been decided by two goals or more. The team is 1-3 in those games.
- New Jersey skaters have accounted for the league’s eighth-most hits per game (22.4).
