by Chuck Sommers
Thursday, Jan 26, 2023
Time: 8 p.m. ET
Venue: Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, TN
Where to watch: MSGSN, BSSO
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: NL
FanDuel: Devils -138, Predators +115
BetMGM: Devils -130, Predators +110
Caesars: Devils -125, Predators +105
Season record
Devils: 31-12-4
Predators: 23-18-6
We’ve hit the halfway mark in the NHL season. Yes, you read that right. We’re really hit that halfway mark that quickly. If you blinked, you probably missed a lot of good things happen in the hockey world. And with football about to be out of the way, look for our champion handicappers to get back on the rink. Oskeim Sports is on a 13-5-0 run in the NHL over the last 30 days, as is Will Rogers. Sean Murphy has also cashed in with a 16-10-0 run in the last month. Make sure you’re following our champion handicappers at bigal.com to get on this winning action!
Devils - Predators preview, prediction and analysis
Recent results
Devils: won 3-2 (OT) vs. Golden Knights on Tuesday
Predators: won 2-1 vs. Jets on Tuesday
The New Jersey Devils will be playing the Nashville Predators on Thursday, January 26 in Nashville, Tennessee.
[The New Jersey Devils won against the Vegas Golden Knights Tuesday, January 24 in Newark, New Jersey with a score of 3-2 in overtime. The New Jersey Devils currently rank 1st in the Metropolitan Division. Dougie Hamilton scored in overtime for the second straight game. Hamilton won it at 3:54 with a one-timer from between the face-off circles off a pass from Jack Hughes in a battle at the right wall after he tied the game 2-2 from above the right circle with 1:10 remaining in the third period.
He also scored in overtime to give New Jersey a 2-1 win against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Sunday.
"Great play by Jack, and he just laid it on a platter for me," Hamilton said.
Ondrej Palat scored, and Hughes and Jesper Bratt each had two assists for the Devils (31-12-4), who are 7-0-1 in their past eight games. Vitek Vanecek made 28 saves and is 8-0-0 in his past eight starts.
"We're competing," Vanecek said. "We're scoring goals, playing good [defense], defense is blocking the shots. Trying to do everything for the win."
"It feels pretty good," Palat said. "I had a couple of chances in those previous games, but it just feels good to contribute and score."
The Devils continue to be dominant and show that the early success was no fluke. They've won eight of their last 10 on the money line.
The Nashville Predators won against the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday, January 24 in Nashville, Tennessee with a score of 2-1. The Nashville Predators currently rank 5th in the Central Division. Tanner Jeannot's first goal in 39 games broke a tie in the third period.
"It feels really good, a little bit of weight lifted off the shoulders," Jeannot said. "But my focus has been the same going into every game; it's doing everything I can to help the team win, and if I can do that in other ways other than scoring, I do my best to do that as well. But it's always nice to get on the board, and hopefully we can keep it going."
Cody Glass also scored, and Juuse Saros made 32 saves for the Predators.
"It's nice to see what our group looks like when we are playing the right way," Nashville coach John Hynes said. "We're in the position where we're continuing to fight for wins and move up in the standings, and I think if we continue to build on what we've built the last two games, we give ourselves a really good chance."
Don't go sleeping on the Predators. They've won six of 10 on the money line, but more importantly, four of their last five.
Prediction
But who can stop New Jersey right now? Not many teams can, and I'd be shocked if they couldn't find a way to crack the Nashville defense that's seen some overs as of late. Devils 5, Predators 3
The New Jersey Devils will be playing the Nashville Predators on Thursday, January 26 in Nashville, Tennessee.
[The New Jersey Devils won against the Vegas Golden Knights Tuesday, January 24 in Newark, New Jersey with a score of 3-2 in overtime. The New Jersey Devils currently rank 1st in the Metropolitan Division. Dougie Hamilton scored in overtime for the second straight game. Hamilton won it at 3:54 with a one-timer from between the face-off circles off a pass from Jack Hughes in a battle at the right wall after he tied the game 2-2 from above the right circle with 1:10 remaining in the third period.
He also scored in overtime to give New Jersey a 2-1 win against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Sunday.
"Great play by Jack, and he just laid it on a platter for me," Hamilton said.
Ondrej Palat scored, and Hughes and Jesper Bratt each had two assists for the Devils (31-12-4), who are 7-0-1 in their past eight games. Vitek Vanecek made 28 saves and is 8-0-0 in his past eight starts.
"We're competing," Vanecek said. "We're scoring goals, playing good [defense], defense is blocking the shots. Trying to do everything for the win."
"It feels pretty good," Palat said. "I had a couple of chances in those previous games, but it just feels good to contribute and score."
The Devils continue to be dominant and show that the early success was no fluke. They've won eight of their last 10 on the money line.
The Nashville Predators won against the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday, January 24 in Nashville, Tennessee with a score of 2-1. The Nashville Predators currently rank 5th in the Central Division. Tanner Jeannot's first goal in 39 games broke a tie in the third period.
"It feels really good, a little bit of weight lifted off the shoulders," Jeannot said. "But my focus has been the same going into every game; it's doing everything I can to help the team win, and if I can do that in other ways other than scoring, I do my best to do that as well. But it's always nice to get on the board, and hopefully we can keep it going."
Cody Glass also scored, and Juuse Saros made 32 saves for the Predators.
"It's nice to see what our group looks like when we are playing the right way," Nashville coach John Hynes said. "We're in the position where we're continuing to fight for wins and move up in the standings, and I think if we continue to build on what we've built the last two games, we give ourselves a really good chance."
Don't go sleeping on the Predators. They've won six of 10 on the money line, but more importantly, four of their last five.
Prediction
But who can stop New Jersey right now? Not many teams can, and I'd be shocked if they couldn't find a way to crack the Nashville defense that's seen some overs as of late. Devils 5, Predators 3
Betting trends
Devils are 11-4 after winning 2 of 3 games this season.
Devils are 9-1 off a one-goal win their last game this season.
Predators are 13-18 after covering 4 of 5 against the spread the last 3 seasons.
Projected lines
Devils:
Ondrej Palat -- Nico Hischier -- Jesper Bratt
Erik Haula -- Jack Hughes -- Tomas Tatar
Jesper Boqvist -- Michael McLeod -- Dawson Mercer
Miles Wood -- Yegor Sharangovich -- Nathan Bastian
Jonas Siegenthaler -- Dougie Hamilton
Ryan Graves -- Damon Severson
Kevin Bahl -- Brendan Smith
Vitek Vanecek
Ondrej Palat -- Nico Hischier -- Jesper Bratt
Erik Haula -- Jack Hughes -- Tomas Tatar
Jesper Boqvist -- Michael McLeod -- Dawson Mercer
Miles Wood -- Yegor Sharangovich -- Nathan Bastian
Jonas Siegenthaler -- Dougie Hamilton
Ryan Graves -- Damon Severson
Kevin Bahl -- Brendan Smith
Vitek Vanecek
Predators:
Filip Forsberg -- Cody Glass -- Matt Duchene
Nino Niederreiter -- Ryan Johansen -- Mikael Granlund
Cole Smith -- Juuso Parssinen -- Colton Sissons
Yakov Trenin -- Tommy Novak -- Tanner Jeannot
Ryan McDonagh -- Roman Josi
Mattias Ekholm -- Alexandre Carrier
Jeremy Lauzon -- Dante Fabbro
Juuse Saros
Filip Forsberg -- Cody Glass -- Matt Duchene
Nino Niederreiter -- Ryan Johansen -- Mikael Granlund
Cole Smith -- Juuso Parssinen -- Colton Sissons
Yakov Trenin -- Tommy Novak -- Tanner Jeannot
Ryan McDonagh -- Roman Josi
Mattias Ekholm -- Alexandre Carrier
Jeremy Lauzon -- Dante Fabbro
Juuse Saros
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Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
