Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the NHL match.
Detroit Red Wings
The defensive issues for Detroit have intensified in November. Over the last 6 games, they have conceded at least 3 goals regardless of the opponent's strength. The return of their main goalkeeper, Ville Husso, might not necessarily improve the situation. The Finnish goalkeeper has a save percentage of 88.5% this season.
New Jersey Devils
The return of center forward Jack Hughes (6+16) to the line-up did not save New Jersey from another defeat, this time against the Rangers (3:5). This match was the fourth in the last two weeks where the Devils conceded 4 goals. The team can expect more from their goaltending brigade, which boasts an 89.32% save percentage at full strength, ranking 30th in the league.
Detroit Red Wings - New Jersey Devils prediction
The offensive lines of Detroit and New Jersey noticeably outperform their defensive players. On average, the Red Wings score 3.6 goals per game, while the Devils score 3.7. They rank 7th and 6th in the NHL, respectively, in this category. In contrast, both teams lag behind in defensive metrics, with New Jersey being 29th. In their head-to-head games, betting on total over has been successful in 4 out of the last 5 cases.
I anticipate an open game with plenty of scoring opportunities and less-than-reliable goaltending. I lean towards expecting a high-scoring match.
