NHL betting preview (Nov. 7): Canadiens vs. Devils odds
Returning from a Western Canada road trip, the New Jersey Devils (8-5-2) come home as big moneyline favorites, set to host the Montreal Canadiens (4-7-2) this Thursday.
Canadiens vs. Devils Odds
- Montreal Canadiens Moneyline: +275
- New Jersey Devils Moneyline: -350
- Puck Line: Canadiens +1.5 (+105), Devils +1.5 (-125)
- Game Total: 6.5 (Over -110, Under -110)
All odds via Sports Interaction.
Matchup
New Jersey (8-5-2) hit a rough patch after a strong start but appears back on track heading into this matchup. The Devils recorded shutouts against the Canucks (6-0) and Oilers (3-0) on their road trip, though they were blanked by the Flames (3-0) after allowing three late goals. The Devils won two out of three meetings against the Canadiens last season, and they’ve won 4-2 overall since 2022-23.
Head coach Sheldon Keefe has said that the team must bring the road energy home, though, as the Devils are a mediocre 2-2-2 as the home team since returning from Prague. The Canadiens, meanwhile, are 1-3-1 as the road team. Not even 10 goals in 13 games from Cole Caufield has been enough to save the team. Montreal has dropped four straight, with just two wins in its last eight games, making this one of the biggest mismatches on the slate, according to oddsmakers. Bettors also believe in the Devils, as their odds have climbed since opening.
Best Bets for Canadiens vs. Devils
The Devils have generated 22 or fewer shots in each of their last three games, but they ranked sixth in shots per 60 minutes prior to that. Thursday’s matchup is a good chance for them to increase their shooting volume, and score some goals in the process. However, while Nico Hischier has taken the hockey world by storm, scoring 10 goals and 16 points in 15 games, it’s about time Jack Hughes reminded everyone just how good he is. Therefore, it’s also a good opportunity to target the following player prop bet.
Jack Hughes Over 1.5 Points (+155) at Sports Interaction
Hughes went over 3.5 shots in nearly 60 percent of his games last season, but this season, he’s just 4-for-11 to the over. He’s currently on pace to finish with around 250 shots on goal if he plays a full 82-game season, which would be nearly 25 fewer shots than he finished with in 62 games last season, and more than 100 shots fewer than he had in 78 games the season prior.
However, while he might not be as good of a bet to register four shots in a game like this as he was last season, especially at -145, he has been trending in the right direction. In fact, according to Evolving Hockey, Hughes has been generating more expected goals over his last six games than he has in any single season, which means we’re seeing an uptick in unblocked shot attempts. The only thing that hasn’t caught up is his scoring rates, and that’s bound to change.
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