Today’s NHL Predictions features a New Jersey Devils season opener rematch against the Detroit Red Wings. These two teams faced off back on October 12th, where the Devils won a close 4-3 contest. So far the Devils (8-7-1) and the Red Wings (8-6-3) have yet to find their footing on the season. Both teams likely look at this game as a potential springboard to turning their season around after rocky starts.
The Devils are coming off a 5-3 loss against the New York Rangers on Saturday night. It was a particularly frustrating game given they carried play for large stretches, and held a 3-2 lead in the third period. However, defensive breakdowns and a lack of situational goaltending sunk the Devils yet again. On the bright side, Jack Hughes made his return to the lineup after a five-game absence and didn’t skip a beat, scoring a goal and adding an assist. With Hughes back, the Devils will look to get back to consistently winning games, starting in “Motown”.
NHL Predictions: New Jersey vs. Detroit
Three Keys to Victory
Will Cap be Back?
Not exactly a key to victory, but an important question to ask. Nico Hischier returned to practice on Monday after being out since October 29th with an upper-body injury. It’s not hyperbole to say that Hischier is the heart and soul of this Devils team. While Hughes is the MVP and puts up the gaudy point totals, Hischier is the do-it-all engine of the team. He has been a full participant since returning to practice, but will likely be a game-time decision. Hischier, who has two goals in seven games this season, plays all situations, gives the Devils depth down the middle, and is one of the elite defensive forwards in the league. The result of the game shouldn’t hinge on whether or not he plays, but having him in their lineup makes them a favourite in this game, and most others.
Pump the Breaks on Detroit’s Attack
The strength of the Red Wings is their offence. They’re second in the league in goals at 5v5 and sixth in all situations. One big reason is because of how high above Expected Goals they are scoring. Detroit ranks fourth in Goals For Above Expected at 8.84 goals. Another reason is that they are getting depth scoring, as well as a vintage Alex DeBrincat season. The Red Wings have 10 players with double-digit points, compared to the Devils eight. For the Devils, tightening up on defence at 5v5 will be imperative in this game. The addition of Colin Miller with Luke Hughes has made a massive difference in the past two games on the backend, and the hope will be that they can form a nice partnership. For the Devils to win this game much of it will come down to how well they can stifle the Red Wings attack.
Jack (Hughes’s MVP Campaign) is Back!
Hughes was out for five games but it felt like 50. His absence could not have been felt any harder and it was clear how much they missed him. The team revolves around him and their style of play is night-and-day when he’s in the lineup versus when he’s out. Against the Rangers, it wasn’t his two points that was most impressive, but how much faster the team looked. Lindy Ruff was able to put out a similar lineup to the one that had beaten the Pittsburgh Penguins the game before, but straddled Erik Haula and Curtis Lazar on the first line with Hughes, and together they managed to score two goals. Individually, despite missing five games Hughes still ranks 13th in the NHL in points and is only eight points behind his brother Quinn for the league lead. In their last meeting against Detroit, Hughes scored two highlight reel goals and will be looked upon yet again to carry the offence to a victory.
Prediction Time
The Devils need this win in the worst way. But so do the Red Wings. Both teams are struggling and it could come down to who’s more desperate and wants it more. In the case of the Devils, they showed against the Penguins when they put in a full effort and are desperate for points they can get them. Having Hughes and maybe Hischier back is a huge boost, but even if Hischier is out they showed against the Rangers they can score against the best. The Devil’s schedule lightens up a bit over the next few weeks so a win here could go a long way in making their way back up the standings.
Prediction: Devils win 4-3
Main Photo: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports
