The BB&T Center will be the site for an intriguing clash as the Florida Panthers conclude their season at home against the visiting New Jersey Devils. It’s the third and final time that these two clubs will meet in the regular season. The match gets started at 7 p.m. ET on Saturday, April 6, and you will be able to catch this Eastern Conference matchup live on Fox SportsNet Florida.
New Jersey Devils at Florida Panthers Odds
Florida (-205) is the big favorite over New Jersey (+175), and the Over/Under (O/U) is set at 6 goals (-120 to bet the over, +100 for the under).
Producing -14.1 units for moneyline gamblers, the Panthers are 36-45 straight up (SU) overall in the 2018-19 season. That early-season winning percentage is a regression from the 44-38 record that the team managed during the 2017-18 season campaign. Through 81 regular season outings, 46 of its games have gone over the total, while 28 have gone under and just seven have pushed. The team’s 20-20 SU at home this season.
Florida comes into the matchup with the second-best power-play unit in the NHL, as it has converted on 27.1 percent of their extra-man opportunities this year. On the other hand, its penalty kill is rated 10th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 81.3 percent of all penalties.
As a collective unit, Florida has been called for penalties just 3.4 times per game overall this season, 3.0 per game over its past five outings total, and 3.0 per game over its last five at home. The team’s had to kill penalties for just 8.3 minutes per game over its last 10 outings, overall.
Boasting a .900 save percentage and 25.2 saves per game, Roberto Luongo (19-23-5) has been the top option in goal for the Panthers this season. If they choose to rest him, however, the team may roll with James Reimer (14-22-22 record, .900 save percentage, 3.09 goals against average).
The Panthers will continue to rely on leadership out of Aleksander Barkov and Jonathan Huberdeau. Barkov (94 points) has tallied 34 goals and 60 assists and has recorded two or more points 28 times this year. Huberdeau has 29 goals and 61 assists to his name and has notched a point in 48 games.
New Jersey has lost 16.9 units for bettors taking the moneyline thus far and is currently 30-51 straight up (SU). Through 81 regular season contests, 39 of its games have gone over the total, while an additional 39 have gone under the total and just three have pushed. As an away team, New Jersey is 10-30 SU.
New Jersey has converted on 17.6 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 fifth overall and it’s successfully killed off 84.2 percent of all penalties.
New Jersey’s players have been whistled for penalties 3.8 times per game this season, and 2.6 per game over their last five outings. The team’s had to defend opponent power plays just 6.5 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Keith Kinkaid (25.8 saves per game) has been the primary choice in the net for New Jersey. Kinkaid owns a 16-25-6 record, while registering a .891 save percentage and 3.36 goals against average this year.
Kyle Palmieri (27 goals, 23 assists) will lead the offensive attack for the visiting Devils.
New Jersey Devils at Florida Panthers Betting Predictions
Free Pick: SU Winner – Panthers, O/U – Under
Betting Notes
- For both of these clubs, the total has gone over in three of their past five outings.
- Power plays and penalty kills may be critical in this game. The Devils are 13-18 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 15-36 in games where they’re in the box for fewer than 10 penalty minutes, total. The Panthers are 18-22 when the team serves fewer penalty minutes than the opposition and 25-32 in games where total penalty minutes are in the single digits.
- Two of New Jersey’s past 10 contests have ended in a shootout. The team is 2-0 in those games and 3-4 overall in shootouts this season.
- Florida has created 10.0 takeaways per game over its last five home games, an improvement over its season average of 9.1 takeaways per game (ranked 5th overall).
- New Jersey skaters have averaged 7.7 takeaways per game (ranked 13th).
