New Jersey Devils vs Detroit Red Wings Prediction, 12/18/2021 NHL Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: New Jersey Devils vs Detroit Red Wings

Date: Saturday, December 18, 2021

Location: Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, MI

TV: Bally Sports Detroit

Little Caesars Arena is the venue where Alex Nedeljkovic and the Detroit Red Wings (14-12-3) will take on the New Jersey Devils (10-12-5) on Saturday.

The New Jersey Devils had a rough game after their 6-1 defeat to the Flyers their last time on the ice. New Jersey garnered 10 penalty minutes in this game. Furthermore, they had 4 power play chances but didn't convert them into a score. The Devils had a below average offensive performance in the loss. In the game, they scored on 1 of the 27 shots they tried.

In regard to their scoring, the New Jersey Devils have racked up 74 goals (22nd in the NHL) over the course of the season and have given up 88. For the year, they have recorded 25 points and their points percentage comes in at .463. New Jersey comes into the game with 75 power play chances and they have tallied 9 goals out of those attempts, giving them a percentage of 12.00%. While at even strength, the Devils have conceded 71 goals while scoring 65 on offense. New Jersey has taken 854 shots and has a shooting percentage of 8.7%. The Devils have had 839 shots attempted against them and hold a save percentage of .895. New Jersey Devils opponents have tallied 83 power play opportunities (13th in the NHL) and have racked up 17 goals in those attempts.

The man protecting the net in this game is Mackenzie Blackwood. Blackwood has been in goal for 120 games over the course of his hockey career. He has amassed a record of 51-46-15 and he has started in 113 games. The opposition has notched 326 goals versus Blackwood in his NHL career and his average for goals against per game is 2.86. Blackwood has seen 3,630 shots taken against him and has amassed 3,304 total saves. He has a save percentage of .910 for his 6,839 mins played. In his career, Blackwood has recorded 60 quality starts and his percentage for quality starts is .531.

The last time they were on the ice, Detroit faced off against the Islanders in a game where the Red Wings notched a win by a mark of 2-1. They had 3 attempts on the power play in this game and earned 1 goal out of those attempts. The Red Wings recorded 2 goals out of the 39 shots on goal they attempted.

The Red Wings have earned 66 goals at even strength and 13 goals (24th in hockey) while on the power play. Detroit has taken 849 shots (19th in the NHL) and has earned a shot percentage of 9.31%, while allowing the other team 971 shots. Over the course of the season, the Detroit Red Wings have accounted for 79 goals, 31 points, and a points percentage of .534. They have a tally of 77 power play opportunities and they have accumulated a power play percentage of 16.88%. They have earned a penalty kill percentage of 76.83% on the other teams 82 power play tries, and their save percentage currently sits at 90.0%. They have allowed 97 goals to be scored by of a combination of 78 goals at even strength and 19 goals while they were shorthanded.

On the other side of the ice you will find Alex Nedeljkovic in net. Nedeljkovic is the owner of a lifetime record of 26-13-7 and has played in 49 games. Nedeljkovic's rate of quality starts is 61.4% and he has 27 quality starting assignments in his professional career. He has accrued 1,294 stops out of 1,401 shots attempted against him, which gives him a rate of .924. His opponents are averaging 2.29 goals per game and he has yielded 107 goals altogether. He has been a starter 44 games and has been on the ice for 2,804 mins.

Who will win tonight's NHL game ATS?

Guy's Pick: Take New Jersey

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