The New Jersey Devils will look to snap out of the funk they’ve been in when they head to Denver to take on the Colorado Avalanche on Friday. With the Avs playing some fantastic hockey this season and looking to record consecutive victories, let’s find out which team is offering the best value against their NHL odds in this inter-conference clash.
Devils vs Avalanche 2019 NHL Spead, Game Info & Expert Pick
- When: Friday, December 13, 2019 at 8:00 PM ET
- Where: Pepsi Center, Denver, CO
- TV: MSG+, Altitude
- Radio: New Jersey / Colorado
- Live Stream: NHL.tv
- NHL Odds: Colorado -235 / Total: 6.5
Why Bet On New Jersey?
New Jersey has dropped six straight games including a 2-0 shutout loss against Dallas on Tuesday night. New Jersey recorded 26 shots in the game but were never able to sneak one by Dallas goalie Ben Bishop. Devils goalie Mackenzie Blackwood took the loss by allowing two goals on 35 shots.
“There’s no excuse. We had two days off, got here a couple days ago, had a good practice (Monday),” Devils right wing Kyle Palmieri told reporters after giving up two goals in the first 11:50 in Dallas. “. … No reasons to start like that. Wasn’t good enough, top to bottom.”
New Jersey averages a paltry 2.43 goals per game which is next to last in the NHL. The Devils are also giving up a whopping 3.57 goals per game defensively. New Jersey is also 0-4 under new head coach Alain Nasreddine since he took over for former coach John Hynes.
Team Statistics
Offense- Goals: 2.47
- Shots: 30.73
- PP/PK Percentage: 13.64
- Goals: 3.70
- Shots: 30.87
- PP/PK Percentage: 21.57
Why Bet On Colorado?
Colorado has won seven of their last eight games including a 3-1 win over Philadelphia on Wednesday night. Scored a pair of goals in the win while Matt Calvert lit the lamp as well. Colorado goalie Pavel Francouz got the start and win by stopping 32 of 33 shots.
“If we play the way we can, we’re going to win a lot of hockey games, but we’ve got to get a little more consistent than we’ve been the last two home games,” coach Jared Bednar told reporters.
Rantanen has scored three goals and put up five assists in six games since returning from an ankle injury that kept him out more than a month. Colorado is now 20-8-3 and is in 1st place in the Central Division. The Avs are averaging a stellar 3.68 goals per game while limiting the opposition to 2.74 goals per game defensively.
Team Statistics
Offense- Goals: 3.68
- Shots: 31.68
- PP/PK Percentage: 18.42
- Goals: 2.74
- Shots: 32.65
- PP/PK Percentage: 23.00
NHL Betting Trends for Devils vs Avalanche
- Devils are 0-6 SU in their last 6 games
- The total went UNDER in 5 of New Jersey’s last 7 games against an opponent in the West conference
- Avalanche are 7-1 SU in their last 8 games
- The total went UNDER in 4 of Colorado’s last 5 games
Devils vs Avalanche Expert Analysis and Prediction
There’s not a whole lot of thinking that needs to go into making this pick. New Jersey can barely score the puck and the Devils aren’t playing good defense at the other end of the ice. Conversely, Colorado is lighting the lamp consistently and playing fantastic defense. The Devils are an awful 1-7 in the last 8 road dates against Colorado and 4-12 in the last 16 meetings against the Avs overall.
With the favorite and home team in this rivalry going an identical 5-2 in the last 7 meetings, Colorado is the easy pick to win this matchup by at least two goals.
Pick: Colorado 4 New Jersey 1
