Arizona Coyotes vs. New Jersey Devils: Prediction, Preview, Picks & Odds - 11/12/2022

Time: 7 p.m. ET

Venue: Prudential Center, Newark, NJ

Where to watch: MSGSN, Bally Sports Arizona

DraftKings: Devils -320, Coyotes +265

FanDuel: Devils -330, Coyotes +265

BetMGM: Devils -333, Coyotes +265

Caesars: Devils -335, Coyotes +265

Coyotes: 6-6-1 (13 points)

Devlis: 11-3-0 (22 points)

Coyotes: won 3 straight; won 2-0 at Islanders on Thursday

Devils: won 8 straight; won 4-3 (OT) vs. Senators on Thursday

If you had the New Jersey Devils winning eight in a row and having one of the best records in the NHL through 14 games, you’re an absolute liar and you are to give all of your life savings to everyone that reads this preview because it’s absurd what’s happening in Newark right now.

The Devils will try to run their winning streak to nine games when they take on the suddenly good (?) Arizona Coyotes to town, who are on a 3-game winning streak of their own with wins over Washington, Buffalo and the New York Islanders. In short, this game is a whole mosh posh of weird and I have no idea what to make of it.

But when it comes to the Devils, I think we expected that at some point they would put it together and be a good team. I don’t think any of us expected them to be world beaters and challenge the Vegas Golden Knights for the longest winning streak in the NHL to this point. The Devils are coming off a 4-3 overtime victory over the Ottawa Senators, who returned home following an impressive sweep on a Canadian road trip and continue to find ways to win.

Leading the way, to no surprise of anyone, is Devils captain Nico Hischier. He scored twice, including the game-winner in overtime, to give the former No. 1 pick 16 points in 13 games (8 goals, 8 assists). Jack Hughes had two assists, and the Devils won their eighth straight for the first time since February 2011. The bigger story, arguably, is the play of goalie Vitek Vanecek, who has played extremely well in the absence of the injured Mackenzie Blackwood.

"I tried to get out of the way, but I guess it just hit me and went in," Hischier said. "The crowd was on our side, we had momentum. I kind of had the feeling when we got the power play [in overtime] that we were going to bury one, and we did."

It’s an island of misfit toys right now for the Devils, who have finally found a way to put it together under coach Lindy Ruff. Not sure that I still trust Lindy Ruff as the coach and it’ll eventually go to someone else, but this is certainly one way to keep the job security.

The same can be said for the Coyotes and coach Andre Tourigny, who has his Arizona club playing very well right now. The way this road trip has unfolded has surprised a lot of people, especially with that 2-0 win at UBS Arena on Thursday. Travis Boyd and Jack McBain both scored, and Clayton Keller assisted on both goals to help out Karel Vejmelka get a 24-save shutout.

But it should also be noted that the Coyotes are on a stretch of 14 straight road games. Something’s got to give at some point.

"No matter what the outside perception of our team is or (what) everyone says outside, inside our room we believe in us," Boyd said. "We believe in our group. We play with a lot of pride and we play with a lot of heart every night, and when we play the right way, we get results. That's where it is."

The jetlag is going to catch up to the Coyotes at some point. Kudos to them for winning three in a row and making things look fun in the Central Division for a little bit, but the Devils are a wagon right now that doesn’t look like they can be stopped. Win No. 9 incoming for New Jersey. Devils win 4-2

Coyotes are 5-0 on the road when they've covered in 3 of the last 4 in the last three years.

Coyotes are 10-13 when playing road games for 3rd game in 5 days the last two seasons.

Devils are 7-0 in non-conference games this season.

Coyotes are 27-67 all-time after allowing 2 goals or less in 2 straight games.

Coyotes:

Clayton Keller -- Barrett Hayton -- Dylan Guenther

Matias Maccelli -- Nick Bjugstad -- Lawson Crouse

Nick Ritchie -- Jack McBain -- Christian Fischer

Liam O'Brien -- Travis Boyd -- Dysin Mayo

Juuso Valimaki -- J.J. Moser

Shayne Gostisbehere -- Josh Brown

Patrik Nemeth -- Troy Stecher  

Karel Vejmelka

Devils:

Tomas Tatar -- Nico Hischier -- Fabian Zetterlund

Erik Haula -- Jack Hughes -- Jesper Bratt

Yegor Sharangovich -- Dawson Mercer -- Jesper Boqvist

Miles Wood -- Michael McLeod -- Nathan Bastian

Jonas Siegenthaler -- Dougie Hamilton

Ryan Graves -- John Marino

Brendan Smith -- Damon Severson

Vitek Vanecek

Points: Clayton Keller -- 15

Goals: Lawson Crouse -- 6

Assists: Clayton Keller -- 11

Goalie: Karel Vejmelka -- 5-3-1, 3.06 GAA, .915 SV%

Points: Jesper Bratt -- 18

Goals: Nico Hischier -- 8

Assists: Jesper Bratt -- 13

Goalie: Vitek Vanecek -- 6-1-0, 2.33 GAA, .909 SV%