Both sides emerged victorious from their most recent games. The Jets flattened the Red Wings at home on Friday, thus preserving their slight two-point cushion over the Calgary Flames for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. In the interim, the Devils burned the Blackhawks on Saturday, and as such kept their hopes of winning the Metropolitan Division alive.

The NHL odds have set the Jets as favourites at -116 on the moneyline (-282 on the puckline). The total is set at 6.5.

Devils vs. Jets NHL Betting Odds

The two-game regular season set concludes with this evening’s matchup. The clubs met in New Jersey in February, with the home team claiming a 4-2 victory. Of note, Winnipeg has emerged victorious in nine of the last 11 games involving these franchises.

New Jersey is experiencing some rocky waters at the worst possible moment. Not only does their 4-6 win-loss tally in 10 games mean momentum is lacking as the playoffs lurk around the corner, but they aren’t doing themselves any favours to win the division. That said, they have won the last two tilts, one of which was a dramatic, possibly cathartic 2-1 overtime win over the Rangers. Spreads have been unkind toward the Devils as well. They’re only 4-6 in that regard in the last 10 opportunities.

Things aren’t exactly rosy in Winnipeg either. They can thank Calgary and Nashville’s relative ineptitude, as they still cling to the last postseason seed in the West despite going 5-5 in their own past 10 tilts. Unless they really pick up the slack, it is beginning to feel like a season with solid promise is petering out. Losing 3-0 to both St. Louis (not a playoff team) and San Jose (even worse than St. Louis) in the span of a week is pretty bad.

New Jersey Devils

It was a workmanlike performance in Chicago on Saturday for a few reasons. Number one, they showed their obvious superiority as a hockey club when it mattered. Second, for stretches Chicago made them work for it.

Not much was expected from the Blackhawks in this contest. They are, after all, in the Connor Bedard sweepstakes whereas the Devils view themselves as Stanley Cup contenders. It started off well enough in the second period, with Dougie Hamilton (20^th) breaking the deadlock. In an intriguing twist, the Hawks fought back with goals from Tyler Johnson (11^th) and Lukas Reichel (sixth) to claim a 2-lead. But that would be it for the supposed upset alert. The visitors scored five of the next six goals, including Timo Meier’s 37^th of the campaign. Devils in 6-3.

Winnipeg Jets

Sometimes things just go one’s way. Frankly, in the case of the Winnipeg Jets, it had felt like some since that had been the case in their favour.

Friday night’s home date with the Detroit Red Wings reminded fans what their side is capable of when it fires son all cylinders. All the big boys came out to play, with Kyle Conner (29^th), Blake Wheeler (16^th), and Mark Scheifele (39^th) all adding their names to the score sheet in a dominant first period. To the home fans’ delight, their was no let up from there. The Jets kept piling on the goals in the middle frame, with Dylan DeMelo (fifth) and Nino Niederreiter (23^rd) getting on the action. By the time Detroit put in a couple for themselves in the final period, it was already 6-0. One wonders why such performances have been so uncommon this season in Winnipeg, but at least they had one when it mattered most. Jets win 6-2.

NHL Prediction: Who Will Win Devils vs. Jets?

DEVILS

Away

3

JETS

Home

4

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