The New Jersey Devils (11-4-1) visit the Chicago Blackhawks (8-5-3) Tuesday. The puck will drop in the United Center in Chicago, Illinois, at 9:30 p.m. ET (TNT). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s NHL odds around the Devils vs. Blackhawks odds and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
2024-25 season series: Devils won 2-0
New Jersey last played Monday, falling at home as a -134 favorite against the New York Islanders. The Devils knotted that game at 2-2 with a D Simon Nemec netfinder 5 seconds before the final horn, but the Isles prevailed 3-2 with an overtime game-winner. The loss snapped a 7-game home winning streak for New Jersey.
Chicago is back in its home barn after an 11-day, 6-game road trip. The Blackhawks dropped the first 3 games (0-2-1) of the trip, but then rallied with 3 straight wins. In their last game Sunday, the upstart Hawks drilled the -176 Detroit Red Wings 5-1 (push 6). Chicago has scored 14 goals over its 3-game win streak.
Devils at Blackhawks odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 12:28 a.m. ET.
Moneyline (ML): Devils -150 (bet $150 to win $100) | Blackhawks +125 (bet $100 to win $125)Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Devils -1.5 (+154) | Blackhawks +1.5 (-190)Over/Under (O/U): 6 (O: -120 | U: +100)Devils at Blackhawks projected goalies
Jacob Markstrom (4-2-1, 3.82 GAA, .872 SV%) vs. Spencer Knight (6-3-2, 2.33 GAA, .926 SV%)
Markstrom was in goal Monday against the Islanders and yielded 3 goals while making 21 stops. He’s 12-4-4 with a 2.51 GAA and 2 shutouts in 21 career games against Chicago
Knight filed a 33-save shutout in his last start, a 4-0 triumph at the Calgary Flames Friday. The 24-year-old’s .926 SV% ranks third in the NHL. He’s 3-3-0 with a 2.82 GAA in 6 games against New Jersey.
Devils at Blackhawks picks and predictionsPrediction
Devils 3, Blackhawks 2
No interest; PASS.
The Blackhawks have been an NHL bottom-feeder in recent seasons, and they have not won 4 straight games since February 2023. But over the last couple of weeks, the 5-on-5 expected-goal numbers for Chicago — while not living up to on-ice results — are on the rise. The Devils have experienced a bit of an advanced-stats dip over that same stretch. Mix in a red-hot Spencer Knight between the pipes and a white-hot C Connor Bedard (18 points in his last 8 games) leading the Blackhawks offense, and Chicago is a lean here.
The Hawks power play is 5-for-its-last-7, and the Devils have been leaky in yielding high-danger even-strength looks over recent games. The contest has an Under lean as well, and New Jersey has played in 3 straight games that have gone past regulation.
The Devils are on the road after playing 3 straight on home ice. The last time they played on the road after multiple games at home they were drilled 8-4 at Colorado (Oct. 28).
Chicago has not beaten New Jersey since 2022 (6 straight losses), but the BLACKHAWKS +1.5 (-190) puck-line play has some value attached.
The Under is 2-1 in the last 3 series meetings, is 4-2 across New Jersey’s last 6 games and is 4-1-1 in Chicago’s last 6.
The Devil power play is 3-for-its-last-18, and Knight has been the better part of an Under by himself of late. He currently leads the NHL in goals saved above average.
Peg the Under 6 (-110) as a value play.
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