Two teams facing each other for the third time this season, the New Jersey Devils and the Washington Capitals face off at Capital One Arena. This divisional matchup gets started at 7 p.m. ET on Friday, March 8 and it can be viewed live on NBC Sports Washington.
New Jersey Devils at Washington Capitals Odds
Washington (-325) is currently favored over New Jersey (+265) and the oddsmakers have put the Over/Under (O/U) at an even 6 goals. The odds for betting that total sit at -120 for the over and even money (+100) for the under.
The Capitals are 39-28 straight-up (SU) and have earned moneyline bettors 3.9 units this season. That winning percentage, the best in the Metropolitan Division so far in this young season, is right in line with what the team posted during last year’s regular season (49-33). Through 67 regular season contests, 35 of its games have gone over the total, while 29 have gone under and just three have pushed. The team is 19-14 SU at home this year.
Washington’s connected on 22.1 percent of its power play opportunities this season, a mark that places them in the top-10 among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 24th overall, and it’s successfully killed off 78.6 percent of all penalties.
As a team, Washington has been whistled for penalties 3.9 times per game overall this season, 3.4 per game over its past five outings total, and 4.4 per game over its last five at home. The team’s had to kill penalties for just 7.9 minutes per game over its last 10 matchups, in total.
Sporting a .909 save percentage and 28.0 saves per game, Braden Holtby (25-23-6) has been the top goalkeeper for the Capitals this year. If the Caps choose to rest him, however, head coach Todd Reirden might turn to Pheonix Copley (15-8-8 record, .901 save percentage, 3.06 goals against average).
The Caps will continue to rely on leadership out of Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom. Ovechkin (77 points) has tallied 46 goals and 31 assists and has recorded two or more points on 19 different occasions this year. Backstrom has 16 goals and 47 assists to his credit and has notched a point in 40 contests.
In the other locker room, New Jersey is 25-42 straight up (SU) and has lost 15.4 units for bettors taking the moneyline this year. A total of 35 of its contests have gone over the total, while 30 have gone under the total and just two have pushed. As the visiting team, New Jersey is 8-24 SU.
New Jersey has converted on 17.7 percent of its power play chances this year, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill unit is ranked fourth overall and it’s successfully killed off 83.6 percent of all penalties.
New Jersey’s players have been penalized 3.9 times per game in total this season, and 3.2 per game over their last five on the road. The team’s had to stave off opponent power plays just 7.6 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Keith Kinkaid (3.36 goals against average and .891 save percentage) has been the primary option in goal for New Jersey. Kinkaid is averaging 25.8 saves per game and has 16 wins, 25 losses, and six OT losses to his credit.
Leading the offensive firepower for the visiting Devils will be Kyle Palmieri (26 goals, 22 assists) and Nico Hischier (17 goals, 27 assists).
New Jersey Devils vs. Washington Capitals Betting Predictions
Prediction: SU Winner – Capitals, O/U – Under
Betting Trends
- For both of these clubs, the over has hit in three of their past five games.
- New Jersey has managed 27.0 shot attempts per game over its last five road games while Washington is averaging 35.0 shots per game over its last five at home.
- Power-play opportunities may prove to be even more critical than usual tonight. The Devils are 11-12 in games where they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 13-29 when they serve fewer than 10 total penalty minutes. The Capitals are 17-6 when the team serves fewer penalty minutes than the opposition and 26-16 in games where they’re in the box for less than 10 minutes.
- New Jersey is 1-4 in games decided by a shootout this season while Washington is 4-1 in shootouts.
- Washington is ranked 11th this season with 8.0 takeaways per game. That figure’s trended lower recently, however, as it has created 5.8 takeaways over its last 10 games and 6.6 takeaways over its last five.
- New Jersey has averaged 2.8 goals per game overall this season, but has been averaging 1.3 goals per match up over its last four games (0-4 SU over that span).
- New Jersey has averaged 6.6 takeaways per game over its last five road games, a drop-off from its season average of 7.8 takeaways per game (ranked 14th in the NHL).
- Washington could hold the upper hand if this one comes down to the wire. The team’s 17-11 in games decided by one goal, while New Jersey is 9-19 in such games.
