Capitals vs Devils Pick – NHL Predictions & Odds 3/9/23

The New Jersey Devils and Washington Capitals meet Thursday in NHL action at the Capital One Arena. Let’s preview this game and give out a pick and prediction.

The New Jersey Devils are averaging 3.6 goals per game and are scoring on 21.6 percent of their power play opportunities. Jack Hughes leads New Jersey with 36 goals, Dougie Hamilton has 43 assists and Nico Hischier has 200 shots on goal. Defensively, the New Jersey Devils are allowing 2.7 goals per game and are killing 81.9 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Vitek Vanecek has allowed 97 goals on 1,041 shots faced, and Mackenzie Blackwood has allowed 46 goals on 461 shots.

The Washington Capitals are averaging 3.1 goals per game and are scoring on 21.1 percent of their power play opportunities. Alex Ovechkin leads Washington with 36 goals, Evgeny Kuznetsov has 39 assists and Conor Sheary has 128 shots on goal. Defensively, the Washington Capitals are allowing 3 goals per game and are killing 82.2 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Darcy Kuemper has given up 115 goals on 1,284 shots faced, and Charlie Lindgren has allowed 64 goals on 675 shots.

The Devils are 23-7 in their last 30 road games and 41-20 in their last 61 overall. The Capitals are 1-5 in their last 6 home games and 3-8 in their last 11 overall. The over is 7-0 in Devils last 7 overall. The under is 8-2-1 in Capitals last 11 home games. The Devils are 8-20 in the last 28 meetings in Washington and 16-35 in the last 51 meetings. The favorite is 42-14 in the last 56 meetings. The road team is 5-2 in the last 7 meetings.

The Washington Capitals have history on their side in this matchup, but that’s about it. Not only are the New Jersey Devils playing the better hockey right now, but they’ve been road warriors all season long. There’s no point in me stepping in front of the Devils on the road, where they’ve feasted all year.