In their second head-to-head meeting of the regular 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, November 30 and it’s being shown live on MSG Network.
New Jersey Devils vs. Washington Capitals Odds
Earning 1.9 units for moneyline bettors, the Capitals are 14-10 straight up (SU) overall this year. That winning percentage, the second-best in the Metropolitan Division in this young season, is fairly close to the 49-33 record the team posted during last year’s regular season campaign. Through 24 regular season contests, 12 of its games have gone over the total, while 10 have gone under and just two have pushed. The team’s 7-5 SU at home this year.
Washington’s been able to convert on 28.4 percent of its power play opportunities this season, a mark that’s good enough for fourth-best in the NHL. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 23rd overall, and it’s successfully killed off 77.0 percent of all penalties.
As a team, Washington has been penalized 3.9 times per game overall this season, and 3.2 per game over its last five games. The team has had to stave off opposition power plays for just 8.6 minutes per game over its last 10 outings, in total.
Boasting a .917 save percentage and 28.5 saves per game, Braden Holtby (9-8-3) has been the principal option in goal for the Capitals this year. If head coach Todd Reirden chooses to give him the evening off, however, the Caps may turn to Pheonix Copley (6-3-3 record, .899 save percentage, 3.06 goals against average).
The Caps will continue looking for offensive production from Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom. Ovechkin (28 points) is up to 18 goals and 10 assists and has recorded two or more points eight times this year. Backstrom has six goals and 22 assists to his name and has notched at least one point in 17 games.
On the other hand, New Jersey is 9-14 straight up (SU) and has lost 6.8 units for bettors taking the moneyline thus far. Through 23 regular season outings, 13 of its games have gone over the total, while eight have gone under the total and just two have pushed. As the visiting team this season, New Jersey is 2-10 SU.
New Jersey has converted on 20.3 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 fifth overall and it’s successfully defended 84.0 percent of all opponent power plays.
New Jersey’s skaters have been penalized 4.3 times per game this season, and 3.0 per game over their past five match ups. The team’s been forced to kill penalties just 8.0 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
Keith Kinkaid (27.4 saves per game) has been the primary option in the net for New Jersey. Kinkaid has nine wins, 10 losses, and four overtime losses to his credit, while registering a .912 save percentage and 2.72 goals against average this year.
Taylor Hall (seven goals, 17 assists) has been one of the top playmakers on offense for the visiting Devils.
New Jersey Devils vs. Washington Capitals Betting Predictions
Free Prediction: SU Winner – Capitals, O/U – Under
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Notes
Betting Trends
The over has hit in four of New Jersey’s last five games.
Washington has allowed just 2.2 goals per game (while scoring 4.0 per contest) in its past six games (the team is a perfect 6-0 SU during that span).
Seven of Washington’s last ten contests have been decided by two or more goals, and the club is 5-2 overall in those games.
New Jersey skaters have dished out the 11th-most hits in the league (22.7 per game).
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