by Chuck Sommers
Friday, Nov 18, 2022
Time: 1 p.m. ET
Venue: Canadian Tire Center, Ottawa, ON
Where to watch: RDS, TSN5, NHLN, MSGSN
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Devils -140, Senators +120
FanDuel: Devils -142, Senators +118
BetMGM: Devils -143, Senators +120
Caesars: Devils -140, Senators +118
Season record
Devils: 14-3-0 (28 points)
Senators: 6-9-1 (13 points)
What an electric start to the NHL season. So much parity, so many good teams through the first 10-plus games, you have every right to be excited! Of course the Vegas Golden Knights and Boston Bruins are heading the fun charge here as the top two teams in the league, because of course they are. But never count out the Avalanche, you know they're always going to be hanging around and will be eating worlds once they get everyone healthy. But this is a good time to be playing these hockey games, as well. Look no further than our own Doc's Sports on a 14-7-0 run over the first 30 days of the NHL season. There's also ASA, Inc. posting a 12-5-1 mark through the first month. You know you can trust our champion handicappers to get you across the finish line with your NHL bets. Check out our Best Bets page at bigal.com to see what we're throwing down!
Devils - Senators preview, prediction and analysis
Recent results
Devils: won 11 straight; won 3-2 (OT) at Maple Leafs on Thursday
Senators: won 4-1 vs. Sabres on Wednesday
It’s official: The New Jersey Devils aren’t losing ever again. I’m fully convinced that this is happening and we are really reaching for the end time. That’s 11 straight wins for the Devils and they’ll look to make it 12 when they visit the Ottawa Senators on Saturday in what seems like the perfect chance for them to hit the dozen market.
It’s official: The New Jersey Devils aren’t losing ever again. I’m fully convinced that this is happening and we are really reaching for the end time. That’s 11 straight wins for the Devils and they’ll look to make it 12 when they visit the Ottawa Senators on Saturday in what seems like the perfect chance for them to hit the dozen market.
The Devils are coming off a 3-2 overtime win against the Toronto Maple Leafs to reach the double ones. It had all the makings for the perfect trap game with Toronto, at home, with a hostile environment ready to cheer on their underachieving team and only to be let down like pallbearers again.
Yegor Sharangovich scored the winning goal 57 seconds into overtime off a rebound from Jack Hughes. Because of that goal, the Devils are two wins away from tying their longest winning streak in team history.
"I think it's really good for the team because we keep it going," Sharangovich said. "… Jack played well in overtime, I thought he might get this goal, but I just put it back into the empty net. At first, I thought it was no goal because the referee's hand was up."
What’s been incredible for the Devils is how they’ve been able to put together a run while overcoming their greatest weakness: goaltending. And it’s not Mackenzie Blackwood winning these games; it’s Vitek Vanecek winning his eighth consecutive start. The goalie who was just pushed aside in Washington and landed on the Devils’ lap has been as good as one could think.
In his 8-0-0 run, Vanecek has allowed just 15 goals and has posted a .933 save percentage. That, right there, is elite production.
"Just how fun it is to come to the rink and work on details and work as a group to get better," Devils captain Nico Hischier said. "Even though you're winning, it just makes the job way more easier to listen and even want to be better so you win more, because it is such a good feeling."
They’ll try to overcome a Senators team that has alternated wins and losses in the last four games, but is coming off a 4-1 win at home against the Buffalo Sabres on Wednesday. Ottawa, who is 6-9-1 and is slightly underperforming as a team that should be better, did get a strong performance from Anton Forsberg in net and got a two-point game from Tim Stutzle.
"I wouldn't say I felt the best of all the games I've played so far," said Forsberg, who ended a personal five-game skid (0-4-1). "But it was a step in the right direction. I've had a few games where I felt really good and let in one or two [shots] I should have had, which is tough sometimes. Tonight, it was a complete game for me and for the team, so it was nice."
The Senators are trying to piece together this balance of having top-end talent but knowing there will be nights that the goaltending and defense aren’t going to be at their best. That’s not the best combination when trying to take care of the Devils.
Prediction
The Devils have scored 46 goals during this winning streak while only giving up 21. They’ve also been tremendous on the penalty kill and have dominated the possession game. Against the Senators, who are still trying to figure things out, this is looking up Devils. Devils win 4-2
Betting trends
Devils are 6-0 off a road win this season.
Senators are 3-17 in November the last two seasons.
Senators are 51-63 at home off a win by 3 goals or more since 1996.
Projected lines
Devils:
Tomas Tatar -- Nico Hischier -- Fabian Zetterlund
Erik Haula -- Jack Hughes -- Dawson Mercer
Yegor Sharangovich -- Jesper Boqvist -- Jesper Bratt
Miles Wood -- Michael McLeod -- Nathan Bastian
Jonas Siegenthaler -- Dougie Hamilton
Ryan Graves -- John Marino
Brendan Smith -- Damon Severson
Vitek Vanecek
Tomas Tatar -- Nico Hischier -- Fabian Zetterlund
Erik Haula -- Jack Hughes -- Dawson Mercer
Yegor Sharangovich -- Jesper Boqvist -- Jesper Bratt
Miles Wood -- Michael McLeod -- Nathan Bastian
Jonas Siegenthaler -- Dougie Hamilton
Ryan Graves -- John Marino
Brendan Smith -- Damon Severson
Vitek Vanecek
Senators:
Brady Tkachuk -- Tim Stutzle -- Claude Giroux
Alex DeBrincat -- Derick Brassard -- Mathieu Joseph
Tyler Motte -- Shane Pinto -- Drake Batherson
Parker Kelly -- Dylan Gambrell -- Austin Watson
Jake Sanderson -- Travis Hamonic
Erik Brannstrom -- Artem Zub
Nick Holden -- Jacob Bernard-Docker
Cam Talbot
Brady Tkachuk -- Tim Stutzle -- Claude Giroux
Alex DeBrincat -- Derick Brassard -- Mathieu Joseph
Tyler Motte -- Shane Pinto -- Drake Batherson
Parker Kelly -- Dylan Gambrell -- Austin Watson
Jake Sanderson -- Travis Hamonic
Erik Brannstrom -- Artem Zub
Nick Holden -- Jacob Bernard-Docker
Cam Talbot
Statistical leaders
Devils:
Points: Jesper Bratt -- 22
Goals: Nico Hischier -- 9
Assists: Jesper Bratt -- 15
Goalie: Vitek Vanecek -- 8-1-1, 2.15 GAA, .916 SV%
Senators:
Points: Brady Tkachuk -- 21
Goals: Shane Pinto -- 8
Assists: Brady Tkachuk -- 14
Goalie: Anton Forsberg -- 4-6-1, 3.35 GAA, .904 SV%
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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.
