In a game featuring two of the league’s very best penalty-kill units, the New Jersey Devils and the Arizona Coyotes meet at Gila River Arena. This East-West matchup will get going at 9 p.m. ET on Friday, January 4, and it is being shown live on Fox Arizona Plus.
New Jersey Devils vs. Arizona Coyotes Odds
With a moneyline of -125, Arizona heads into the contest as the favorite. The line for New Jersey sits at +105, and the oddsmakers have put the Over/Under (O/U) at an even 6 goals (-120 for the under, +100 for the over).
The Coyotes are 17-23 straight-up (SU) and have hurt moneyline bettors to the tune of -2.5 units so far. That early-season winning percentage is a welcome improvement over the 29-53 record from the 2017-18 season campaign. Through 40 regular season contests, 20 of the team’s games have gone under the total, while 19 have gone over and just one has pushed. This year, the team’s 7-13 SU at home.
Arizona has converted on just 17.1 percent of its power play chances this season, a figure that places the team in the bottom-10 overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill is rated first overall, and it’s successfully killed off 88.0 percent of all penalties.
Arizona, as a collective unit, has been whistled for penalties 3.9 times per game overall this season, and 4.6 per game over its past ten contests. The team’s had to stave off opponent power plays for just 8.0 minutes per game over its last five matchups, in total.
Averaging 28.2 saves per game with a .909 save percentage, Darcy Kuemper (5-13-2) has been the principal goalkeeper for the Coyotes this year. If they, however, decide to rest him, the team might turn to Antti Raanta (6-6-6 record, .906 save percentage, 2.88 goals against average).
The Coyotes will continue seeking offensive production via Clayton Keller and Nick Schmaltz. Keller (29 points) has produced eight goals and 21 assists and has recorded two or more points six times this year. Schmaltz has seven goals and 18 assists to his name and has notched a point in 19 contests.
New Jersey has lost 9.7 units for bettors taking the moneyline thus far and is currently 15-24 straight up (SU). 23 of its contests have gone over the total, while 14 have gone under the total and just two have pushed. New Jersey’s 4-16 SU as the visiting team this season.
New Jersey has converted on 19.7 percent of its power play chances this year, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked third overall and it’s successfully killed off 84.4 percent of all penalties.
New Jersey’s players have been penalized 3.9 times per game in total this season, and 2.8 per game over their last five on the road. The team has been forced to kill penalties 8.6 minutes per game over their last five outings.
Keith Kinkaid (25.6 saves per game) has been the primary option in the net for New Jersey. Kinkaid owns a 12-17-6 record, and has registered a .901 save percentage and 3.02 goals against average this year.
For the visiting Devils, the offense will be facilitated by Taylor Hall (11 goals, 26 assists) and Kyle Palmieri (20 goals, 15 assists).
New Jersey Devils at Arizona Coyotes Betting Picks
Free Prediction: SU Winner – Coyotes, O/U – Under
Betting Trends
- Arizona is 2-0 in games decided by a shootout this season while New Jersey is 0-2 in shootouts.
- For both of these teams, the over has hit in three of their past five matchups.
- Over New Jersey’s last ten games, six of them have been decided by two or more goals (the team is 4-2 in those games).
- New Jersey skaters notched 22.6 hits per game last season, while the Coyotes forced 24.4 hits per contest.
