The Detroit Red Wings visit the Prudential Center in New Jersey tonight where they take on the Devils. The Red Wings have played the Devils well over the past few seasons winning 11 of the last 16 meetings overall and 3 of the last 5 played in New Jersey.
Head to Head Trends
Red Wings are 11-5 in the last 16 meetings.
Over is 5-1-1 in the last 7 meetings.
New Jersey Devils (-105)
The New Jersey Devils are 4th in the Metropolitan Division with 45 points 14 points back of the 1st place Washington Capitals. The Devils have played ok so far this season but I think they have been more lucky then good. So far this season the Devils have gone to overtime or the shootout 12 times winning 8 of them so those numbers will probably flip flop in the second half as things usually do.
The Devils have a solid defense allowing 2.31 goals per game but they have the 4th worst offense in the league and I wouldn’t doubt if by the end of the season that they end up with the worst offense. Right now the Devils are averaging 2.31 goals per game and that is with a fairly high 9.32 shooting percentage. The three teams below the Devils in goals scored have shooting percents in the 6.5%-7.5% range so it’s a good chance that the Devils shooting percent will go down in the second half of the season while those other three teams will go up and New Jersey will finish last in goals scored.
New Jersey Devils Trends
Devils are 4-1 in their last 5 overall.
Devils are 2-8 in their last 10 games following a win.
Devils have to hope Cammalleri’s upper-body injury is minor https://t.co/w6GJL5BYqw
— NHL on NBC (@NHLonNBCSports) January 3, 2016
Detroit Red Wings (-105)
The Detroit Red Wings are 3rd in the Atlantic Division with 45 points 5 points behind the 1st place Florida Panthers. The Red Wings are another team similar to the Devils in the fact that they go to overtime a lot but they are just 7-7 in those game. I think Detroit’s offense averaging around 2.50 goals per game is probably what we’re going to see the rest of the season but where I think they can and will improve in the second half is defense.
After splitting the goaltending duties between Jimmy Howard and Petr Mrazek for most of the season it looks like Mrazek has moved into the number one starters spot and I think that will pay off in the second half as Howard has been pretty disappointing this season.
Detroit Red Wings Trends
Red Wings are 15-5 in their last 20 road games vs. a team with a losing home record.
Red Wings are 0-4 in their last 4 games following a win.
Conclusion
I’m going with the Detroit Red Wings over the Devils in this one. I think the Wings are the better team overall and I think they will get better as the season goes on while the Devils will start to fade away.
