Today’s NHL Predictions features the third matchup of the season between the New Jersey Devils and Detroit Red Wings. The Devils (16-13-2) are coming off a disheartening 6-3 loss to the Edmonton Oilers. Meanwhile, the Red Wings enter in a bit of a slump themselves after having a great start to the season. However, Detroit got a wild shootout win over the Philadelphia Flyers the night before. Tonight marks game four of the Devil’s five-game homestand.
These teams most recently met on Thanksgiving Eve where Detroit won convincingly 4-0. That game marked the Devils’ first shutout loss since the 2021-22 season. It was an abysmal effort from the Devils that night where they only managed 16 shots on goal, including just two in the third period. However, the season series is tied 1-1 with the Devils winning their season and home opener against Detroit 4-3. The rubber match comes at a pivotal time for the Devils as they look to get their season back on track and try to salvage this homestand.
NHL Predictions: New Jersey vs. Detroit
Three Keys to Victory for New Jersey
Jekyll and Hyde Goaltending
Which Devils goalie will show up has been the million-dollar question since game one. Akira Schmid and Vitek Vanecek have given isolated good performances, but have struggled to bring consistency. Against Edmonton, Schmid lasted 5:24 into the first period before being pulled after surrendering two goals on six shots. Vanecek went on to play an incredibly solid first and second period before collapsing in the third. He gave up four goals including three in a 1:09 span, completely crumbling in the final frame. The Devil’s goaltending has been, for the most part, bad all season, and the only hope tonight is that one of them is due for a good performance. Vanecek’s Goals Saved Above Expected has continued to get worse, as he now sits at -8.3. Meanwhile, Schmid’s GSAx has also been trending towards the bottom as he sits at -3.9. Asking for long-term quality goaltending is too much at this point, the Devils just need one of them to step up tonight and go from there.
Pucks On Net
A contributing factor to the Devil’s three-game losing streak has been their ability to simplify their game. That starts with getting pucks on the net. Over the past three games, they’ve failed to record more than 30 shots on goal. The significance of that number is because they record at least 30 shots on goal in all but two of their victories. The key to success for this team is firing pucks and making the opposing team scramble, but that simply hasn’t been there lately. In the two meetings the Devils only managed 27 and 16 shots on goal, and in all honesty, should have also lost that first game against the Red Wings. With the offense, and team as a whole, not clicking, shooting the puck from everywhere on the ice is their best chance at generating chances. Jonas Siegenthaler proved that against Edmonton the other night when a harmless wrist shot from the blue line found the back of the net through traffic. It doesn’t always have to be pretty, and when you’re in a slump like the Devils are, it rarely is.
Need Jack Hughes Spark
The same sentiment from our last predictions reigns true for tonight. Jack Hughes, for as elite as he is, is in one of the worst stretches of his career. He once again generated very little offence Tuesday night, only recording three shots on goal. Jack has looked frustrated which has made him try and push offence more, only to result in turnovers and carelessness with the puck. Over the past eight games, he’s only recorded five points, three of which game in the same game. His Expected Goals have gone way down over that time, as have his shots and chance creation. In the first meeting against the Red Wings, Hughes scored two highlight-reel goals that propelled the Devils to victory. In tonight’s matchup, the Devils will need him to wind back the black and help fill the net a few times in order to get the two points.
Prediction Time
The vibes for the Devils this season are on life support. Every team they’re trying to catch keeps on winning, and any time they make up ground they squander it days later. Each of the past few games has felt like the most important of the season, but with the Christmas freeze coming after tonight, they could be in serious trouble with a loss. Not many would’ve thought it’d be like this, but the Devils are at full-court press time. They need to play with as much desperation as possible to get the win. Recent performances and trends all point to more disappointment, which is why they just might have a chance to win.
Prediction: Devils Win 4-2
Main photo by: Ed Mulholland – USA TODAY Sports
