The New Jersey Devils (41-16-6) travel to meet the Washington Capitals (31-28-6) Thursday at Capital One Arena. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. (ESPN+). Below, we analyze Tipico Sportsbook’s lines around the Devils vs. Capitals odds, and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
The Devils enter play 4 points behind the Carolina Hurricanes for 1st place in the Metropolitan Division, and the Canes have a game in hand, too.
New Jersey is coming off a 4-3 loss against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday, although the Devils are a solid 6-2-1 in the last 9 games overall.
The Capitals find themselves 5 points out of a wild-card spot. Washington was doubled up 4-2 by the Los Angeles Kings on Monday, capping off a 4-game road trip which saw the Caps go 2-2-0.
The last time these teams met on Nov. 26, the Devils protected home ice with a resounding 5-1 win. The Caps picked up a 6-3 victory in the 1st meeting, also in Newark, on Oct. 24. This is the 1st meeting this season in D.C.
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Devils at Capitals odds
Provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 8:26 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Devils -150 (bet $150 to win $100) | Capitals +130 (bet $100 to win $130)
- Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Devils -1.5 (+160) | Capitals +1.5 (-190)
- Over/Under (O/U): 6.5 (O: +100 | U: -120)
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Devils at Capitals projected goalies
Vitek Vanecek (27-7-3, 2.55 GAA, .907 SV%, 2 SO) vs. Darcy Kuemper (19-20-4, 2.78 GAA, .910 SV%, 5 SO)
Vanecek, a former member of the Capitals, gets another crack at his former organization. He allowed just a single goal on 38 shots in a 5-1 victory against the Caps on Nov. 26. Vanecek also allowed a goal on 4 shots in a relief appearance against the Caps on Oct. 24.
Kuemper allowed 3 goals on 40 shots in a loss at Los Angeles, his 1st loss in 3 March outings. He is still 2-1-0 with a 2.68 GAA and .923 SV% in 3 starts in the month. This will be his 1st start against the Devils this season.
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Devils at Capitals picks and predictions
Prediction
Devils 4, Capitals 2
Moneyline
The DEVILS (-150) are a decent play as a moderate favorite on the road.
The New Jersey offense has been locked in lately, going for 3 or more goals in 6 straight outings. The Capitals (+130), who were sellers at the NHL trade deadline, have been rather erratic on offense lately. It did drop 8 goals on the Sharks in the recent road trip, but it still has averaged 2.9 goals per game across the last 12 outings.
Puck line/Against the spread
The DEVILS -1.5 (+160) are worth a roll of the dice on the puck line. New Jersey has failed to cover the puck line in the last 2 games as a favorite. Playing the Devils comes with some risk, too, as New Jersey is just 1-4 in the last 5 games as favorite.
However, the Capitals +1.5 (-190) are just 1-4 in the last 5 games on the puck line as an underdog.
Over/Under
UNDER 6.5 (-120) is the lean, but be careful.
The Over has cashed in 7 straight games for the Devils, while going 4-0-1 in the last 5 games on the road.
However, the Under has dominated for the Capitals, cashing at an 8-2-1 clip in the last 11 home games, while going 11-5 in the last 16 games inside the Metropolitan Division.
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