The New Jersey Devils (19-4-0) will be looking to build on their winning run when they play host to the Nashville Predators (10-11-2) at Prudential Center on Thursday. Nashville is kicking off a four-game road trip coming off a 2-1 overtime win over the Ducks on Tuesday, breaking a three-game losing streak. Roman Josi and Colton Sissons both scored once for the Predators.
Matt Duchene had two assists to lead the team in scoring. Juuse Saros had a great performance with 34 saves (.971%) in the win. New Jersey won their third straight game, beating the Rangers 5-3 on Monday. Yegor Sharangovich scored twice to lead the Devils. Vitek Vanecek saved 35 of 38 shots.
HEAD TO HEAD
The Predators won both games between the teams last season, including a 3-2 victory in their final meeting in December, their sixth straight win against New Jersey. Josi led Nashville with two points (1G 1A). Sharangovich and Pavel Zacha were on the scoresheet for New Jersey. Saros got the win, saving 29 of 31 shots (.935%).
FACING OFF
Nashville is averaging just 2.30 goals per game for the season, 33rd in the NHL. The visitors will face a difficult challenge against a Devils team that is allowing only 2.22 goals a game (2nd). Meanwhile, New Jersey has found the net 3.78 times a game on average, third in the league, and the Predators are allowing opponents to score 2.83 goals per game (9th).
New Jersey averages more shots per game (36.4) than most teams in the league, ranking second. With an average of 30.5 attempts, Nashville ranks 18th.
The Predators’ 16.05% power play percentage is the fifth-lowest in the league, while the Devils rank 24th with a conversion rate of 18.06%. When it comes to penalty killing, New Jersey has the league’s seventh-ranked PK% at 81.82%, while Nashville is 12th at 80.56%.
TOP PERFORMERS:
With 19 points this season, Filip Forsberg is the top skater for the Predators. He has seven goals and 12 assists in 21 games. In the net, Saros (7-6-2) is Nashville’s top goaltender. He has a 3.06 GAA and a .905% save percentage.
Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt lead the Devils in scoring with 26 points apiece. Hughes has 12 goals and 14 assists in 23 games, while Bratt has eight goals and 18 assists. Nico Hischier has 10 goals and 15 assists. Vanecek (11-2-0) has the best goals against average for New Jersey at 2.11, second-best in the league. He has a save percentage of .923%.
HOME AND AWAY
Nashville is looking to end a three-game losing run away from Bridgestone Arena this season. New Jersey is 9-3-0 at home this season.
SportsTips’ NHL Pick:
Nashville Predators (+170)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
