Adam Williams presents his prediction for the NHL match.
The New Jersey Devils, the leaders of the Eastern Conference, are set to face the Nashville Predators, currently ranked 14th in the West. The Predators have been inconsistent, while the Devils have won seven of their last nine games.
New Jersey Devils
Since November 13th, the Devils have had a highly successful run in terms of standings. They have beaten the reigning champions, the Florida Panthers, twice (4:1 and 6:2), and secured maximum points against their key divisional rivals, the Carolina Hurricanes (4:2) and Washington Capitals (3:2). Their formula for success includes a lethal power play, converting at 30.9%, and reliable goaltending with a combined save percentage of 90.4%. As demonstrated by last season's Rangers and this season's Jets, this is a proven effective strategy.
Nashville Predators
The Predators are still trying various approaches to find their rhythm. Over the weekend, even Fyodor Svechkov was given 7.5 minutes of ice time for the first time. There are occasional successes, but mostly they are just fleeting moments; for instance, the Predators scored more than two goals in only four of their 12 games this month. As such, there’s no sign of a winning streak. They can decisively defeat the Vancouver Canucks (5:3) or Winnipeg Jets (4:1), and in the next game, be shut out by the Seattle Kraken (0:3) or Calgary Flames (0:2).
New Jersey Devils vs Nashville Predators Prediction
As we approach the quarter mark of the regular season, the Devils have three forwards, Nico Hischier, Jesper Bratt, and Dawson Mercer, each with 10 goals. In contrast, the top shooter for the Predators, Filip Forsberg, has only eight goals and hasn’t scored in over two weeks. We predict a confident victory for the hosts.
