New Jersey Devils vs Montreal Canadiens NHL Prediction, Pick and Preview, February 21st, 2023

Odds

2021-2022 season stats

Preview

On February 21st, 2023, the New Jersey Devils will host the Montreal Canadiens at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. This will be the second meeting of the season between these two teams. The first game took place on November 28th, 2022, and saw the Devils come out on top with a 5-1 win. In that game, rookie forward Dawson Mercer scored two goals, and he will be one to watch in the upcoming matchup.

Montreal Canadiens

The Canadiens, on the other hand, come into this game with a record of 23-29-4, good for eighth place in the Atlantic Division. They have struggled this season, particularly on the road, where they have a 9-15-3 record. In their most recent game, they lost 4-1 to the Nashville Predators.

One of the biggest issues for the Canadiens this season has been their defense. They are allowing an average of 3.4 goals per game, which is the sixth-worst mark in the league. This has put a lot of pressure on their offense to produce, and they have struggled to do so at times. However, when they do manage to score three or more goals in a game, they have been successful, with an 18-5-2 record in those games.

Center Nicholas Suzuki has been one of the bright spots for the Canadiens this season. He has 17 goals and 25 assists on the season, making him the team's leading scorer. He will need to continue his strong play if the Canadiens are going to have a chance in this game.

Another player who has been hot for the Canadiens recently is forward Rafael Harvey-Pinard. In the last ten games, he has seven goals and two assists, making him one of the team's most productive players during that stretch. Harvey-Pinard has been a pleasant surprise for the Canadiens this season, and he will be counted on to provide some offense in this game.

Unfortunately for the Canadiens, they have a number of players out with injuries that will impact their ability to compete in this game. Sean Monahan, Brendan Gallagher, Carey Price, Emil Heineman, Juraj Slafkovsky, Kaiden Guhle, Arber Xhekaj, Joel Edmundson, Paul Byron, Cole Caufield, Jake Evans, and Justin Barron are all out or day to day with various injuries and illnesses. This is a significant blow to the Canadiens, as they will be missing some of their key players.

New Jersey Devils

The Devils come into this game with a record of 37-14-5, good for second place in the Metropolitan Division. They are one of the hottest teams in the league right now, with a 7-2-1 record in their last ten games. Their recent success can be attributed to their strong offense, which has been averaging 3.4 goals per game during that stretch. In addition, their power play has been particularly effective, with a 23-5-0 record in games they score one or more power-play goals.

One of the standout performers for the Devils this season has been center Nico Hischier. He has 23 goals and 29 assists on the season, making him the team's leading scorer. Hischier has been a key player for the Devils all season, and he will be counted on to provide some offense in this game.

Another player who has been hot for the Devils recently is Mercer. In the last ten games, he has five goals and one assist, including a two-goal game against the Winnipeg Jets in the Devils' most recent win. Mercer has been a pleasant surprise for the Devils this season, and his scoring touch will be crucial for the team down the stretch.

Defensively, the Devils have been solid all season. They are allowing an average of 2.6 goals per game, which is the third-best mark in the league. Their goaltending has been particularly strong, with both Mackenzie Blackwood and Jonathan Bernier providing solid performances between the pipes. Unfortunately, Bernier will not be available for this game due to a hip injury. Blackwood will likely get the start, and he will need to continue his strong play if the Devils are going to come out on top.

BETTING TRENDS

Montreal are 0-5 SU in their last 5 games.

Montreal are 1-4 SU in their last 5 games against New Jersey.

Montreal are 11-1 SU in their last 12 games on the road.

Montreal are 1-6 SU in their last 7 games when playing on the road against New Jersey.

The total has gone UNDER in 4 of New Jersey's last 5 games.

New Jersey are 5-0 SU in their last 5 games.

The total has gone OVER in 4 of New Jersey's last 6 games against Montreal.

The total has gone UNDER in 5 of New Jersey's last 6 games at home.on.

Prediction

In terms of special teams, both teams have been strong on the penalty kill this season. The Devils have the third-best penalty kill in the league, with an 87.9% success rate. The Canadiens are not far behind, with the sixth-best penalty kill in the league at 86.4%. However, the Devils have had more success on the power play, as they have already scored 45 power-play goals this season. The Canadiens, on the other hand, have only scored 28 power-play goals.

The Devils have been particularly strong at home this season, with a 16-10-2 record at the Prudential Center. This will be an advantage for them in this game, as they will have the support of their home crowd. The Canadiens, on the other hand, have struggled on the road, and will need to overcome this if they want to come out on top.

Based on the recent form of the two teams, it seems likely that the Devils will come out on top in this matchup. Their strong record at home and recent hot streak make them the favorites going into the game. However, the Canadiens have shown that they can be a dangerous team when they get going, and it would not be surprising to see them put up a strong fight. Ultimately, it will come down to which team can execute their game plan and capitalize on their chances.

One factor that could impact the outcome of the game is the number of injuries on the Canadiens' side. With so many key players out, it will be difficult for them to compete with the depth and talent of the Devils.

PICK: Devils -1.5 (-135)

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