The New Jersey Devils are back in the playoffs for the first time since their run to the 2011-12 Stanley Cup final but face a tough test in the Sportsbook round against the Atlantic Division champion Tampa Bay Lightning. Home-ice advantage has been huge in this series, as visiting teams are 1-5 SU in the last six meetings between the Eastern Conference clubs.
Sportsbook opened the Lightning as -210 home favorites with a total of 5.5.
- The total has gone UNDER in five of the Devils’ last six games in the playoffs.
- The Lightning are 31-12 SU in their last 43 games at home.
- The total has gone OVER in 13 of the Lightning’s last 18 games at home against teams with winning records.
New Jersey enters the postseason on an eight-game point streak, as the Devils went 7-0-1 SU to end the campaign. The Devils are led by Hart Trophy candidate Taylor Hall, who had a career-high 93 points this season. Hall ended things with 19 points in his final 12 games and continues to produce on the top line next to Nico Hischier (20 goals, 52 points) and Kyle Palmieri (24, 44). Keith Kincaid, who started the season as the backup to Cory Schneider, has eclipsed Schneider as the starter after going 7-0-1 in the stretch run.
Tampa Bay’s red-hot offense is paced by the league’s No. 3 scorer in Nikita Kucherov (100 points) and captain Steven Stamkos (86). Stamkos, who’s been battling a lower-body injury, practised this week and is expected to return to action for Game 1. Tampa finished 3-4-1 SU to end the regular season on a bumpy note. The Bolts also dropped all three meetings with New Jersey this year.
Betting on New Jersey to cover the puckline on the road has been a poor decision. In the Devils’ last five tilts away from home, they’re 1-4 ATS.
Sportsbook Odds & Computer Pick
If you're backing the visiting New Jersey Devils in this one, they were listed earlier today as underdogs of +180 at most sportsbooks, including Sportsbook. Those OVER/UNDER total betting saw the number open in the area of 6, depending on the book.
A 3.1-2.7 result in favor of the Lightning is the prediction by the OddsShark handicapping pick engine. View the computer score prediction and who will win the pick on the moneyline for all upcoming NHL matchups here.
New Jersey Devils vs Tampa Bay Lightning Matchup
Team Betting Records & Power Rankings
The New Jersey Devils will try to spoil the party on Thursday; they are 44-29-9 this season, while the Lightning are 54-23-5. New Jersey is 42-38-2 on the totals; Tampa Bay is 49-31-2. Stay Informed: follow us on Twitter for odds specials, betting line moves and Tampa Bay vs New Jersey injuries news.
The NHL Power Rankings show a disparity between these teams, with the Lightning rated this week at No. 10 and the Devils sitting at No. 3.
Statistical Matchup
Offensively, the game matches up the Tampa Bay Lightning's No. 1-ranked offense (3.61 goals per game) against a New Jersey Devils defense that ranks No. 16 at 2.98 goals per game allowed. The Lightning power play has clicked at a 24% rate while the Devils have a 81.71% rate on the penalty kill.
Recent Outings Betting Recap
New Jersey lost its last outing, a 5-3 result against the Capitals on April 7. Bettors who backed the Capitals at -177 on the moneyline won on the day, and the total score (8) sent OVER bettors to the payout window.
Tampa Bay was a 3-2 loser in its last match on the road against the Hurricanes. They lost as -130 favorites, while the total score of 5 made Sportsbooks of UNDER bettors.
- New Jersey is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games
- New Jersey is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
- The total has gone OVER in 8 of New Jersey's last 11 games
- New Jersey is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games on the road
- Tampa Bay is 6-16 ATS in its last 22 games
- Tampa Bay is 15-8 SU in its last 23 games
- Tampa Bay is 4-11 ATS in its last 15 games at home
- Tampa Bay is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games at home
Next Betting Matchups
New Jersey at Tampa Bay, Saturday, April 14
