The New Jersey Devils (26-12-3) face the Anaheim Ducks (12-26-4) Friday at Honda Center. Puck drop is scheduled for 10 p.m. (ESPN+/hulu). Below, we analyze Tipico Sportsbook’s lines around the Devils vs. Ducks odds, and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
The Devils picked up a 5-3 road win against the Carolina Hurricanes as a moderate underdog, pulling within 2 points of 1st place in the Metropolitan Division behind the Canes. New Jersey has won 4 in a row on the road, too.
The Ducks were rolled by the Boston Bruins and Edmonton Oilers in the last 2 home games by a combined score of 13-3. The Over is on a 3-0 run for the Ducks, as Anaheim has allowed 5.7 goals per game (GPG) across the stretch.
Devils at Ducks odds
Provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub Lines last updated at 12:02 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Devils -270 (bet $270 to win $100) | Ducks +225 (bet $100 to win $225)
- Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Devils -1.5 (-115) | Ducks +1.5 (-105)
- Over/Under (O/U): 6.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
Devils at Ducks projected goalies
Vitek Vanecek (16-5-2, 2.37 GAA, .913 SV%, 2 SO) vs John Gibson (7-18-3, 4.07 GAA, .896 SV%, 1 SO)
Vanecek and the Devils slipped behind 3-1 in the 2nd period in Carolina on Tuesday, but he ended up with 25 saves on 28 shots, and the New Jersey offense rattled off 4 unanswered goals to help him to a 4th consecutive win.
Gibson has been abysmal, or great, with very little in between lately. He has allowed 13 goals across the last 100 minutes of game time on just 79 shots. Those 2 ugly losses follow up a stunning 35-save shutout over the Dallas Stars on Jan. 4.
Gibson has allowed 4 or more goals in 5 of his last 8 starts, and 2 or fewer goals in the other 3 outings.
Devils at Ducks picks and predictions
Prediction
Devils 4, Ducks 2
Moneyline
The Devils (-270) will cost you more than 2 1/2 times your potential return, and that’s quite expensive for a road team. Yes, New Jersey is heads and tails better than Anaheim, but you can’t risk this kind of money for such a small reward.
PASS.
The DEVILS -1.5 (-115) are a much better play, in terms of cost, on the puck line.
New Jersey has won a total of 5 games since Dec. 21, and 4 of those outings are by 2 or more goals.
Anaheim, on the other hand, is 2-4 in the last 6 games as an underdog on the puck line.
Over/Under
UNDER 6.5 (-110) is the play, although it’s risky with the alarming rate Gibson has been letting in goals.
However, the Ducks should find it challenging finding a way to get pucks past Vanecek and the suffocating Devils D. Unless New Jersey goes off like Edmonton and Boston did against Gibson and Anaheim, this one should come in just Under.
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