Adam Williams presents his prediction for the NHL match.
A pivotal moment awaits the New Jersey Devils — a victory here would virtually lock in third place in the Metropolitan Division while simultaneously denting the New York Rangers’ hopes of reaching the wild card. The New York Rangers remain in pursuit of the Montreal Canadiens, but a congested fixture list and a string of testing road games stand in their way.
New Jersey Devils
The New Jersey Devils approach this game in fine form. The squad has won three of their last four, registering convincing victories over the Chicago Blackhawks (5:3) and the Minnesota Wild twice (5:2 and 3:2 via shootout). Their only recent defeat came at the hands of the Winnipeg Jets (0:4). Forward Nico Hischier has been particularly sharp, netting a hat-trick against the Minnesota Wild, while Luke Hughes is riding a three-game point streak (1 goal, 5 assists).
New York Rangers
The New York Rangers are currently lacking consistency. The team has dropped five of their last eight encounters, conceding three or more goals in six of those. Their away form is also cause for concern, with four defeats in their last seven on the road. Newark has proven a tough venue too — they have let in at least three goals in four of their previous five visits.
New Jersey Devils vs New York Rangers Prediction
The hosts are enjoying a strong run, performing with confidence on home ice, and have already dismantled the New York Rangers twice this season (5:1 and 5:0). Despite a few promising attacking displays, the visitors continue to struggle away from home and remain vulnerable defensively. With that in mind, backing the New Jersey Devils to score over 2.5 goals appears a solid option.
