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Devils vs Red Wings Odds & Picks – Best Bet for Wednesday Night Hockey

Daniel Coyle

by Daniel Coyle in NHL Hockey

Updated Jan 4, 2023 · 11:29 AM PST

New Jersey Devils Jack Hughes celebrates his goal
Dec 20, 2022; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; New Jersey Devils center Jack Hughes (86) celebrates his goal against the Carolina Hurricanes during the third period at PNC Arena. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports
  • New Jersey Devils visit Detroit Red Wings vying for third straight road win
  • Red Wings have won three of four including two straight at home
  • Read on for all the odds and trends ahead of Wednesday night’s matchup at Little Caesars Arena

The New Jersey Devils will be gunning for a third straight win on the road when they visit the Detroit Red Wings in Wednesday NHL action. The Devils’ recent road success comes amid a dismal slide that has seen the team fall to defeat in nine of their past 11 contests, capped by a narrow 5-4 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes on New Year’s Day.

The Red Wings return to action after closing out 2022 with Saturday’s 4-2 win over Ottawa that lifts them to 3-1-0 over their past four outings.

Start time is set for 7:00pm ET at Little Caesars Arena, with all the action televised on TNT.

Despite their recent woes, the Devils arrive in the Motor City perched as -170 favorites in the NHL odds. The Red Wings lag as +143 underdogs, and the total is pegged at 6.5.

Devils vs Red Wings Odds

Game Time (ET) Team Puck Line Total Moneyline
Wednesday, January 4th New Jersey Devils -1.5 (+158) O 6.5 (-110) -170
7:00pm Detroit Red Wings +1.5 (-190) U 6.5 (-110) +143

Odds as of January 4th at Caesars Sportsbook.

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Devils vs Red Wings Recent History

Wednesday night’s matchup marks the third and final meeting of the season between these Eastern Conference rivals. These clubs split a pair of October dates, with the road team emerging victorious in each, capped by the Devils’ 6-2 win in Detroit back on October 25.

That win snapped New Jersey’s four-game losing streak in head-to-head action, during which they were outscored by a wide 18-7 overall margin. That level of production has helped fuel a steady 4-1 run for the OVER in totals betting when these teams meet.

New Jersey Devils Betting Outlook

The Devils have padded their sparkling road record with their two recent wins, which now sits at 13-2-1. However, the club’s overall decline in recent weeks raises questions as to whether their 21-4-1 start to the season was just a mirage. Not only have the Devils been bounced from the top of the Metropolitan Division during their slide, but they also face the real threat of falling out of the playoff picture if they don’t turn things around soon.

The club has been held to two or fewer goals on six occasions during their current 2-7-2 run. However, they have shown signs of turning things around while scoring four goals in each of their past two outings. That is good news for Wednesday’s expected starting goaltender Vitek Vanecek, who has allowed just nine total goals over his past four starts, but has seen his teammates score just once three times over that stretch.

Jack Hughes has remained the most consistent offensive producer during the team’s recent slump. Hughes has scored three times over the past two games, and has now picked up at least a point in 15 of his past 17 outings.

Detroit Red Wings Betting Outlook

While goals have come at a premium for the Devils, the Red Wings have been filling the net during their current 3-1-0 run. The club has potted 19 total goals over the past four games, but has also struggled at times to shut down opposing shooters while allowing 4.00 goals per game over that stretch. That has created a boon for sports bettors taking the OVER, which has now paid out in five of Detroit’s past six contests.

The Red Wings have won two straight at home during their surge, halting a dismal five-game losing streak on home ice. However, this team has relied heavily on late-game comebacks during their current surge. The Wings scored three times in just over the first three minutes of the third period in Saturday’s win over the Sens, and have seen 13 of their 19 goals over the past four games come after the first 40 minutes.

On a more positive note, the Red Wings have enjoyed production from across the lineup over the past four games, with 13 different players bulging the twine over that stretch. That production has been timely, considering leading scorer Dylan Larkin has failed to record a point in the past two games.

Devils vs Red Wings Prediction

With the Devils offense stirring from its slumber, and the Red Wings struggling on defense at times, this contest has the makings of a high-scoring affair.

However, the Red Wings’ hopes rest squarely on their ability to avoid falling behind early once again against a stingy New Jersey squad that is unlikely to roll over in the final frame.

That said, the home dog trending in the right direction is hard to ignore.

The Pick: Red Wings ML (+143); OVER 6.5 (-110)

 

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