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NHL Betting Lines and Picks: New Jersey Devils vs Ottawa Senators

Written by on December 29, 2015

It is always interesting to watch an NHL game that features two teams with very contrasting styles of play. That is exactly what we will get on Wednesday, December 30, when the defensive New Jersey Devils head into the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa to face the freewheeling Senators. The puck-drop for this one is set for 7:30 PM on TVA.

How to bet the New Jersey Devils Vs Ottawa Senators

Part of the fun of betting on games like this one is trying to figure out which of the two styles will win the day. The Devils are likely going to have to set up the defensive stall on the road, which could end up being frustrating for a team that likes to attack at high speed. You can check XBet.ag for this game’s NHL betting lines soon. But for now, let’s take a closer look at both of these teams to see if we can figure out who will prevail.

Why bet on the New Jersey Devils

The Devils (17-14-5) were one of the surprise teams in the early part of the season, thanks in large part to their ability to find offense from a pretty mediocre attacking crew. The goals have started to dry up in recent weeks, though, and they are now relying altogether too heavily on their defense to get the job done. They have only managed to score 2 or more goals in 2 of their last 7 games, which simply isn’t good enough in this league. They are still hanging on to 4th spot in the Metropolitan Division, but the teams behind them are starting to close the gap. The Devils goals per game average is down to 2.3, but on the plus side, they are 7th in the league with a 2.4 goals per game against average.

Why bet on the Ottawa Senators

The Ottawa Senators (18-12-6) have not had to worry too much about scoring goals this season, as their 2.9 goals per game is 4th best in the NHL. The goals have not been coming so easily of late, though, which may help explain why they are just 4-5-1 in their last 10 games. If they want to hang on to a Wild Card spot this season, they are going to have to find a way to light the lamp on a more consistent basis once again. They can manage that if they continue to play well on home ice, where they have gone 10-4-4 so far this year. Defense has to improve, too, as their 2.8 goals against per game average really needs to come down. ottawa-senators-goalie

Expert Pick and Final Score Prediction

Neither of these teams are playing their best hockey right now, which means trying to find some sort of edge to separate them. For me, that would be the strong play of the Ottawa Senators at home, as well as their ability to break down stubborn defenses. New Jersey Devils 2 Ottawa Senators 4