The New Jersey Devils (37-14-5) play host to the Montreal Canadiens (23-29-4) at Prudential Center on Tuesday. Montreal is coming off a 5-1 loss against the Maple Leafs on Saturday, their third straight defeat away from home.
The Canadiens conceded a power play goal while failing to take advantage of their own limited power play opportunities. Josh Anderson was the only player to find the net for the Canadiens. Jake Allen saved only 36 of 41 shots against (.878%) in the loss.
New Jersey beat the Jets 4-2 on Sunday. Dawson Mercer scored twice to lead the Devils. MacKenzie Blackwood saved 23 of 25 shots.
HEAD TO HEAD
The Devils won the first meeting between the teams this season, a 5-1 victory in November. Jack Hughes led New Jersey with three points (2G 1A). Evgenii Dadonov scored Montreal’s only goal. Vitek Vanecek got the win, saving 25 of 26 shots (.961%).
FACING OFF
Montreal is averaging only 2.62 goals per game for the season, 29th in the NHL. The visitors will face a difficult test against a Devils team that is allowing just 2.62 goals a game (3rd).
Meanwhile, New Jersey has found the net 3.46 times a game on average, sixth in the league, and the Canadiens are allowing opponents to score 3.66 goals per game (29th).
New Jersey averages more shots (34.2) than most teams in the league, ranking fourth. With an average of 27.9 attempts, Montreal ranks 30th.
Expect a few power play opportunities for the Devils, as the Canadiens are averaging 4.57 penalties per game, fourth-most in the NHL. The visitors’ 12.59 penalty minutes a game ranks first-highest.
The home team has been penalized 3.66 times a game (19th) for an average of 8.41 minutes (19th). The Devils’ 20.25% power play percentage ranks 20th in the league, while the Canadiens are 27th with a conversion rate of 16.86%.
While efficient on the power play, Montreal has been less successful at penalty killing, as the away team possesses the league’s fifth-lowest PK% at 73.98%. New Jersey’s 80.92% ranks 13th in the NHL.
TOP PERFORMERS:
With 42 points this season, Nick Suzuki is the top skater for the Canadiens. He has 17 goals and 25 assists in 56 games. In the net, Sam Montembeault (11-11-2) is Montreal’s top goaltender by goals against average.
He has a 3.29 GAA and a .906% save percentage. Allen (12-18-2) leads the Canadiens in games played in goal. He has a GAA of 3.47 and a save percentage of .894%. Hughes leads the Devils in scoring with 69 points (10th in the league).
He has 35 goals (4th in the league) and 34 assists. Vanecek (24-5-3) is the top goalie for New Jersey with a goals against average of 2.30, fifth-best in the league. He has a save percentage of .917%.
HOME AND AWAY
Montreal is 9-15-3 away from home this season. New Jersey is 16-10-2 at home this season.
SportsTips’ NHL Pick:
NJ Devils -1.5 (-140)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
