Washington Capitals vs New Jersey Devils Prediction, 4/2/2021 NHL Pick, Tips and Odds

Game: Washington Capitals vs New Jersey Devils

Date: Friday, April 2, 2021

Location: Prudential Center in Newark, NJ

TV: NHL Network

Odds/Point Spread: Capitals (-140) Devils (+120)

Vitek Vanecek and the Washington Capitals (23-8-4) travel to Prudential Center on Friday where they'll meet the New Jersey Devils (13-16-5). The odds on this contest have the Capitals priced at -140 and the Devils are at +120. The over/under has been set at 5.5.

The Capitals will look for better times on the ice after their 5-2 defeat to the Rangers in their previous contest. The Corsi for the Capitals sat at 41 and the Corsi against was at 38 meaning they had a Corsi rate of 51.9%. When starting in the offensive zone they were at 58.3% and they had a PDO at even strength of 87.3 for this one. Washington accounted for 6 penalty mins in this game. The Capitals had a rough night on the offensive side of the ice in the loss. Their Fenwick came in at 31 and the Fenwick Against sat at 30, meaning they had a Fenwick percentage of 50.8%. They compiled 24 face-off victories at even strength and were beaten on 20 opportunities to win the face-off. In addition, they had 3 power play opportunities and were able to net 1 goal. While out there on the ice, they scored on 2 of the 32 shots they put on net.

The Capitals have had 1,006 shots taken against them and hold a save percentage of .899. When at even strength, the Capitals have given up 82 goals while notching 98 of their own. Washington Capitals opponents have amassed 107 power play opportunities (18th in the league) and have racked up 20 goals in those chances. For the season, they have tallied 50 points and their points % is .714. Washington has attempted 974 shots and has a shot percentage of 12.2%. Regarding their goal scoring prowess, the Washington Capitals have accumulated 119 goals (5th in hockey) on the year and have surrendered 102. Washington comes into the game with 88 power play opportunities and they have added 21 goals out of those chances, garnering them a rate of 23.86%.

The man protecting the goal in this game is Vitek Vanecek. Vanecek has participated in 24 contests during his professional hockey career. He has a win-loss mark of 14-6-3 and he was named the starter in 24 games. Opponents have racked up 64 goals versus Vanecek in his professional career and his goals against average per contest is 2.73. Vanecek has had 691 shot attempts against him and he has 627 total saves. His save percentage is at .907 for his 1,405 minutes played. From the beginning of his pro career to now, Vanecek has accounted for 12 quality starts and his quality starts rate is .500.

Their last time out, New Jersey squared up with the Bruins in a game where the Devils ended up losing by a mark of 5-4. New Jersey wound up with a 38.2% Corsi rate. This Corsi rating tells us the kind of game New Jersey played and they played a solid game. Their Fenwick percentage came in at 37.9% by amassing a Fenwick of 36 and the Bruins having racked up a 59 Fenwick. They had a PDO of 106 and they'll go home having earned an oZS percentage of 24.1%. The Devils converted 4 goals of the 35 shots on goal they were seeking. They had 3 attempts on the power play in this contest but weren't able to finish one of them with a goal.

On the campaign, the New Jersey Devils have accounted for 83 goals, 31 points, and a points percentage of .456. They have permitted 102 goals to be scored by way of 75 goals at even strength and 27 goals while they were shorthanded. The Devils have 70 goals at even strength and 13 goals (28th in pro hockey) while having more men on the ice. They have earned 99 power play opportunities and they have earned a power play percentage of 13.13%. New Jersey has taken 1,005 shots (24th in hockey) and has earned a shooting percentage of 8.26%, while allowing the opposition 1,091 shots. They have recorded a penalty kill percentage of 72.73% on their oppositions 99 opportunities on the power play, and their save percentage is currently 90.7%.

On the other side of the ice you are likely to see Mackenzie Blackwood patrolling the crease. He has accounted for 2,527 saves out of the 2,763 shots taken, which gives him a save percentage of .915. Blackwood holds a career mark of 41-33-10 and has played in 90 games. He got the starting nod in 84 games and has been on the ice for 5,139 minutes. Blackwood's quality start rate comes out to 56.0% and he has qualified for 47 quality starts in his NHL career. Opponents are averaging 2.76 goals per game and he has relinquished 236 goals altogether.

Who will win tonight's NHL game against the spread?

Tony's Pick: Take Washington (-140)

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