The Washington Capitals (24-9-4) play the back end of a two-game set at the New Jersey Devils (13-16-6) Sunday with a 3 p.m. ET puck drop at Prudential Center. Below, we analyze the Capitals-Devils odds and lines, with NHL picks and predictions.
The Capitals scratched out a 2-1 overtime win against the Devils Friday, recovering from an 8-4 beatdown at the hands of the New York Islanders Thursday. Washington has been a “Jekyll and Hyde” team lately, winning three in a row, then losing two straight by a combined score of 13-6 before their narrow win Friday.
The Devils have notched points in three straight, going 1-0-2. All three results were one-goal games, and six of their previous seven have been decided by one goal. The Devils have been getting solid defense and goaltending to keep them in games against most teams lately.
Capitals at Devils: Odds, spread and lines
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Saturday at 8:29 p.m. ET.
- Money line: Capitals -165 (bet $165 to win $100) | Devils +140 (bet $100 to win $140)
- Against the spread/ATS: Capitals -1.5 (+155) | Devils +1.5 (-190)
- Over/Under: 6 (O: -105 | U: -115)
Capitals at Devils: Projected starting goalies
Ilya Samsonov (8-2-1, 2.77 GAA, .896 SV%, 1 SO) vs. Mackenzie Blackwood (9-9-3, 2.82 GAA, .913 SV%, 1 SO)
Samsonov was toasted by the Islanders for six goals on just 24 shots before getting pulled in the third period last time out, easily his worst performance of the season.
The last time he faced New Jersey, however, he turned aside all 24 shots he faced for his only shutout of the season, a 4-0 home win March 26.
Blackwood has come up short in his past two outings, Friday’s 2-1 overtime loss to Washington, and a 5-4 shootout loss at the Boston Bruins Tuesday. But he has made 40 or more saves in each of the past three games, including a 1-0 shutout at Boston March 28.
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Capitals at Devils: Odds, lines, predictions and picks
Prediction
Capitals 3, Devils 2
Money line (ML)
The CAPITALS (-165) will have just enough to get by the pesky Devils, just like they did Friday. It wouldn’t be surprising to see overtime or a shootout needed again, however.
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Against the spread (ATS)
The DEVILS +1.5 (-190) are a little more expensive than I am comfortable with, but they’re on home ice and they have just been playing everyone so tough lately.
Six of the past seven games for New Jersey have been decided by just one goal, and Blackwood is playing some tremendous goal lately. Five of the past seven meetings with the Capitals have also been one-goal games, so backing the Devils is a solid play.
Over/Under (O/U)
UNDER 6 (-115) is the way to go. Six goals are just too much to expect in a Caps-Devils matchup. They have faced each other so much that this is almost like a Game 6 or 7 in a playoff series. Each of the past two meetings have gone Under. Goals will be at a premium with two goaltenders playing well.
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