A pair of teams on winning streaks, the New Jersey Devils and the Florida Panthers face off at the BB&T Center for an Eastern Conference tilt. MSG Network will broadcast the matchup, and the puck drops at 7:30 p.m. ET on Thursday, March 1.
New Jersey Devils at Florida Panthers Odds
With a -145 moneyline, Florida enters the matchup as the heavy favorite. The line for New Jersey sits at +125, and the Over/Under (O/U) is set at 6 goals (-125 money on the over, +105 on the under).
New Jersey is 33-30 straight up (SU) and has earned 7.5 units for moneyline bettors this season. 32 of its contests have gone over the total, while 29 have gone under and just two have pushed. This 2017-18 Devils team is 16-15 SU on the road.
New Jersey has converted on 19.6 percent of its power play opportunities this year, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, it has the eighth-strongest penalty kill in the league, and it has successfully killed off 82.5 percent of its penalties.
New Jersey, as a collective unit, has been penalized 3.9 times per game this season, and 5.2 per game over its last five on the road. The team’s had to kill penalties just 8.0 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Averaging 28.9 saves per game with a .913 save percentage, Cory Schneider (18-17-6) has been the top option in goal for New Jersey this year. If New Jersey chooses to rest him, however, the team may turn to Keith Kinkaid (15-11-2), who has a .903 save percentage and 2.99 goals against average this year.
Taylor Hall and Nico Hischier will both lead the way for the visiting Devils. Hall has 68 points on 27 goals and 41 assists, and has recorded two or more points 19 times. Hischier has 13 goals and 28 assists to his credit, and has registered a point in 30 games.
On the other bench, Florida is 29-31 straight up (SU) and has lost 1.6 units for moneyline bettors thus far. 32 of its contests have gone over the total, while 28 have gone under and none have pushed. It’s 16-12 SU at home this season.
Florida has converted on 19.6 percent of its power play chances this year, a figure that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 22nd overall, and it’s successfully killed off 79.1 percent of all opponent power plays.
Florida players have been sent to the penalty box 4.3 times per game in total this season, and 2.4 per game over their last five home outings. The team has had to defend opponent power plays just 8.5 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
James Reimer (27.9 saves per game) has been the top option in goal for Florida. Reimer has 15 wins, 20 losses, and five overtime losses to his credit and has maintained a fairly-weak .905 save percentage and 3.22 goals against average this season.
Aleksander Barkov (21 goals, 38 assists) will pace the offensive counter for Florida.
New Jersey Devils vs. Florida Panthers Free Picks
Free Pick: SU Winner – Panthers, O/U – Over
Betting Trends
- New Jersey is 4-4 in games decided by a shootout this season while Florida is 2-3 in shootouts.
- The total has gone under in three of Florida’s last five games.
- The Panthers have averaged the league’s third-most shots on goal (34.5) while the Devils have attempted the 20th-most (only 34.5).
- Florida has averaged 3.0 goals per game overall this year, but has raised that figure up to 4.0 per match up across its three-game winning streak.
- Four of New Jersey’s last ten games have been decided by two goals or more. The team is 1-3 in those games.
