Offense meets defense at Prudential Center on Thursday as the dynamic New Jersey Devils (46-20-8) play host to the suffocating New York Rangers (44-20-10). New York is coming off a high-scoring 6-2 win over the Blue Jackets on Tuesday, their third win in a row.
The Rangers committed four penalties in the game, conceding one power play goal. Six players found the net for the Rangers. Igor Shesterkin had a great performance with 28 saves (.933%) in the win. New Jersey fell 5-1 to the Islanders on Monday. Erik Haula netted the lone goal for the Devils. Vitek Vanecek saved 31 of 34 shots in the loss.
HEAD TO HEAD
The Devils have won two of the three games between the teams this season, including a 4-3 (OT) victory in their most recent meeting in January. Jack Hughes led New Jersey with three points (2G 1A). Chris Kreider, Jimmy Vesey, and Julien Gauthier were on the scoresheet for New York. Vanecek got the win, saving 31 of 34 shots (.911%).
FACING OFF
New York is averaging 3.36 goals per game for the season, 12th in the NHL, and they are taking on a Devils team that is allowing 2.73 goals a game (7th).
Meanwhile, New Jersey has found the net 3.45 times a game on average, fifth in the league, and will be looking to overpower the Rangers’ stout defense, which is holding opponents to 2.68 goals per game (4th).
New Jersey averages more shots per game (34.5) than most teams in the league, ranking fifth. With an average of 31.7 attempts, New York ranks 16th.
The Rangers’ 22.22% power play percentage ranks 10th in the league, while the Devils are 19th with a conversion rate of 20.59%. When it comes to defending power plays, New Jersey has the league’s ninth-ranked PK% at 82.46%, while New York is 14th at 80.29%.
TOP PERFORMERS:
With 84 and 81 points this season, Artemi Panarin and Mika Zibanejad have been the top skaters for the Rangers. In the net, Shesterkin (34-12-7) is New York’s top goaltender. He has a 2.54 GAA and a .914% save percentage.
Hughes leads the Devils in scoring with 86 points. He has 40 goals (9th) and 46 assists. Vanecek (29-10-4) is the top goalie for New Jersey with a goals against average of 2.50. He has a save percentage of .909%.
HOME AND AWAY
New York is 22-8-6 away from Madison Square Garden this season. New Jersey is 20-13-4 at Prudential Center this season.
SportsTips’ NHL Pick:
NJ Devils (-135)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
