The Devils are looking to tire out the Canadiens who are finishing a set of back-to-back games.
Canadiens under heavy strain
The first games of the young season have gone smoothly for the Montreal Canadiens in terms of results. Their five-game total jumped up to seven points after Monday’s win in Buffalo. Today’s game not only finishes a set of back-to-back games but also marks a third game in four nights for the Habs. This will be a tough challenge for the home team, even though teams are generally still fresh at this stage of the season.
On the lineup side, the major news is Kirby Dach’s injury, forcing the second line center to miss the rest of the season. For Alex Newhook, acquired in the summer, this means a real opportunity to showcase his talent. In the previous two seasons in Colorado, Newhook broke the 30-point threshold and now has a shot at a much higher total. At least the start has been promising, as Newhook has already found the back of the net three times while also adding a helper. On defense, the Canadiens might be playing without Kaiden Guhle, who has missed the last couple games and is day-to-day.
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Jack Hughes showing the way for the Devils
Jack Hughes had a four-point night to propel the Devils to an overtime win over the Islanders in Friday’s rivalry game. The Devils hammered their opponents with no less than four power-play goals, bringing their early-season total to 42.9 percent. The advantage is significant over the Canadiens, who are still looking for their first power-play goal of the season.
The Devils last played on Friday, so they will have had plenty of rest compared to the home team. A longer rest combined with the Devils’ skating ability is a toxic combination for Montreal’s chances. From the visitors’ upcoming schedule, it is worth noting Wednesday’s home game against Washington. It is quite likely that backup Akira Schmid will be seen between the pipes against Montreal. The availability of Erik Haula and Nico Hischier was up in the air after Friday’s match, but both forwards seem to be good to go based on Monday’s lineup information.
Interesting odds for the visitors
The Devils are a much better team and would be clear favorites to win even without the rest advantage. Montreal’s B2B set-up exacerbates the skill difference between the teams and makes the game very difficult for the home side.
I expect the Devils to win the game in regulation about six times out of ten. Unibet has the Devils as -134 favorites in regulation, which is decent value given the special circumstances. We’re going for six units, which would return a nice profit in case the Devils manage to seal the win in 60 minutes.
Tip: New Jersey Devils in regulation @ -134
Units: 6/10
The match will start on 10/24/2023 at 7:15 PM EDT.
The odds are from the time of publication of this article and are subject to change.
Esa Kostet
X: @konekostet
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