The Ottawa Senators (6-10-1) and New Jersey Devils (5-7-4) hook up Wednesday at 7 p.m. ET at Prudential Center. The two teams occupy eighth place in the Atlantic and Metropolitan Divisions, respectively. We analyze the Senators-Devils odds and lines, while providing NHL betting tips and picks around this matchup.
Senators at Devils: Projected starting goalies
Anders Nilsson vs. MacKenzie Blackwood
Nilsson seems to have taken over the starting job from veteran Craig Anderson. The 29-year-old is 4-4-1 through nine starts with a .921 save percentage and a 2.98 goals against average. He won three of his last four starts.
Likewise, Blackwood continues to outperform projected starter Cory Schneider in the Devils’ crease. The 22-year-old is 5-3-3 through 10 starts and one relief appearance with a .896 SV% and 2.93 GAA. He also won three of his last four starts.
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Senators at Devils: Odds, picks and betting tips
Odds courtesy of BetMGM; access them at USA TODAY Sports for a full set of today’s betting odds. Odds last updated at 9 a.m. ET.
Prediction
Senators 3, Devils 2
Moneyline (ML)
The -182 odds for a Devils team just 2-2-4 on home ice aren’t worthwhile with a $10 bet returning a profit of $5.50 on a risky venture. The SENATORS can be played at the more appealing +150 odds for a $15 profit.
Ottawa is just 1-6-1 away from home but it is 5-5 over the last 10 games. New Jersey went 5-3-2 over its last 10 games after a horrid start, but the Devils still possess a minus-19 goal differential to the Senators’ minus-12.
Puck Line/Against the Spread (ATS)
Stick with the moneyline rather than laying the -182 for the Sens to cover the puck line of +1.5 and either lose by a single goal or win outright. They’re 8-9 against the spread overall and 3-5 on the road, but the incentive is with the outright win.
The Devils are 5-11 on the puck line this season and just 2-6 at home. They’re getting +150 odds for a win of two or more goals. Two of their five wins this season were by at least two-goal margins, but that won’t be the case Wednesday.
Over/Under (O/U)
Both teams are 6-4 against the Over/Under across their last 10 games, with sloppy defensive play and poor goaltending taking the bulk of the blame. With both Nilsson and Blackwood playing well of late, side with the UNDER 6.5 (-154).
Esten’s NHL betting record: 51-56
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