The Devils proceed to wrestle to search out consistency within the early going of coach Sheldon Keefe’s tenure.
After an imposing 6-0 win in Vancouver on Wednesday, they have been bested 3-0 by the Flames on Friday in a matchup they have been closely favored to win.
Whereas the Oilers are nonetheless thought-about Cup favorites at +750, the Devils are catching them in a really perfect spot on Monday.
The Oilers performed a hotly contested Battle of Alberta on Sunday in Calgary, and they are going to be with out the sport’s finest participant, Connor McDavid, on Monday.
Devils vs Oilers Odds
| Workforce | Moneyline | Unfold | Whole |
|---|---|---|---|
| Devils | -130 | -1.5 (+185) | Over 6.5 (-110) |
| Oilers | +110 | +1.5 (-225) | Beneath 6.5 (-110) |
Devils vs Oilers Prediction
(8:30 p.m. ET, NHL Community)
The Oilers have had a powerful run with out McDavid. They’ve two wins in regulation and outscored Nashville and Calgary 9-3. Edmonton managed only one win in 5 video games with out McDavid final season, although.
It’s a typical theme throughout all sports activities to see groups capable of step up with key gamers out of the lineup a couple of times however not capable of maintain that play over a bigger pattern.
It’s not just like the Oilers regarded like world-beaters earlier than McDavid’s harm this season, both. They’ve performed to a file of 6-5-1 and maintain a -7 purpose differential. An absence of depth on the again finish seems like a priority. Darnell Nurse continues to wrestle mightily and remains to be averaging 21:23 minutes of time on ice.
The Oilers will possible begin backup Calvin Pickard on this back-to-back spot. Whereas Pickard has outperformed Stuart Skinner up to now, he has nonetheless struggled, posting a .897 save share and -0.3 GSAx in 5 appearances this season.
Whereas the Devils have posted a number of letdown performances this season, their roster composition nonetheless seems wonderful, and their underlying numbers are robust. In 14 video games, they maintain a 56.44% anticipated purpose share.
They’ve seven regulation wins and a +8 purpose differential.
The Devils supply one of many league’s finest 1-2 punches down the center with Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier, which is per nearly all of Stanley Cup-winning rosters.
Hughes and Hischier are supported by a variety of extremely expert wingers, comparable to Timo Meier and Jesper Bratt, and the Devils’ top-six nonetheless tasks to be among the finest within the NHL.
Under-average goaltending has plagued New Jersey for a number of seasons, so common supervisor Tom Fitzgerald paid a good-looking charge to amass an elite starter in Jakob Markstrom from the Flames and Jake Allen on the final commerce deadline.
Goaltending is troublesome to undertaking, however that duo ought to be capable to submit higher outcomes than we’ve seen so far.
Primarily based on their convincing play in different aspects of the sport, if the Devils begin to obtain league-average goaltending as anticipated, they might be one of many league’s finest groups this season.
Betting on the NHL?
Devils vs Oilers Choose
The Devils’ deep offense has loads of pace and talent to reveal an Oilers aspect that hasn’t been overly convincing defensively this season.
This seems like a great spot to again a bounce-back efficiency as they tackle an Edmonton aspect that at present seems overvalued within the betting markets.
At -135 or higher, I see worth in backing the Devils on Monday.
Choose: Devils ML (-135, bet365)