Adam Williams presents his prediction for the NHL match.
Both sides have managed just one win across their last five games, but it’s the New Jersey Devils who head into this one as the strong favourites. That’s despite the fact the Devils recently lost to the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Calgary Flames and the Vancouver Canucks — all teams outside the current playoff picture.
Chicago Blackhawks
The Blackhawks lit up the scoreboard over the weekend, hammering the Philadelphia Flyers (7:4) in a rare offensive outburst. Seven players registered multiple points, with Ryan Donato notching a brace in what’s been the best season of his career (25 goals, 28 assists). The Blackhawks have quietly posted solid numbers at home, averaging 3.02 goals per game — a better mark than the New Jersey Devils (2.97).
New Jersey Devils
Over the past three months, the Devils rank just 27th in the league in point percentage (45.7%), with only 13 wins from 33 games. Goaltender Jacob Markström has struggled mightily since the Four Nations break, posting a GSAx of –5.41 and a save percentage of just 84.45%. Head coach Sheldon Keefe appears rattled, publicly laying blame on Johnathan Kovacevic after a recent loss to the Ottawa Senators. To make matters worse, the Devils are without star forward Jack Hughes and key defencemen Dougie Hamilton and Jonas Siegenthaler.
Chicago Blackhawks vs New Jersey Devils Prediction
The Chicago Blackhawks come in fresher, having enjoyed an extra rest day. This season, home teams with a scheduling edge have won nearly 60% of the time. Given the New Jersey Devils’ form, injury list and turmoil behind the bench, the Blackhawks seem well-placed to capitalise on the situation and perform strongly.
