New Jersey Devils vs Vancouver Canucks Betting Picks

The Devils have played with a shorthanded defensive lineup nearly all season, and nothing has changed here with Luke Hughes placed on injured reserve with a shoulder injury suffered this past Monday. Injuries are a reason the Devils' defense is below average in goals allowed and on the penalty kill. No defense is as bad as Vancouver's, though. The Canucks give up an NHL-high 3.6 goals a game and are also last in penalty killing. Injured goalie Thatcher Demko isn't available to bail out some of Vancouver's frequent defensive mistakes. The Canucks have been even worse defensively over their last dozen games, giving up an average of 4.4 goals per game. Vancouver has scored four goals against the Capitals and three goals against the Islanders in its last two games. The Capitals are 10th defensively, while the Islanders rank fourth defensively. Take the OVER.

Both teams have won two of their past eight games. Vancouver will play its first game without Quinn Hughes, who was traded to Minnesota as the Canucks try to rebuild with younger players. They picked up forwards Marco Rossi and Liam Ohgren, and the Canucks could use some help in that department as they are #26 in the NHL with 2.75 goals per game. New Jersey is playing in the fourth game of a 4-in-6, and it is 0-5 in that situation. The Devils are 0-4 in the third game of a 3-in-4-day stretch. Vancouver is on a 6-0-1 UNDER run, and the Canucks are 4-0-1 UNDER in their past five games after scoring two or fewer goals in their previous game. The Devils are 6-1 UNDER their past seven against teams with losing road records. Jacob Markstrom is probable for the Devils, and he owns a 3.66 goals-against average and an .875 save percentage. New Jersey has lost five of six home games. Take the Canucks and the UNDER.

First-place New Jersey has had two days off after a 6-2 win over Anaheim. They have a winning road mark and rank ninth in the league in scoring (3.67 goals per game) and fifth on the power play. Vancouver newcomers Jake DeBrusk and Daniel Sprong have yet to be great fits, still learning the new system. The Canucks' offense is 14th in scoring and 16h on the power play. They come off a 4-3 loss at home to Carolina and the defense appears to need another top-four defender to stabilize the blue line. They've dropped three of their first four home games to start the season, including a pair of defeats as -200 chalk. Play New Jersey.

New Jersey is playing a back-to-back after defeating St. Louis 2-1 on Friday night in a game that featured several skirmishes after prized Chicago rookie Connor Bedard had to leave the game following a hit by Brendan Smith. Vitek Vanecek had 23 saves for the Devils, who expect to start Nico Daws in this game. Vancouver has won six of 10, but looks to bounce back from a 2-1 loss at St. Louis on Thursday. Canucks goalie Thatcher Demko is 18-8-1 with a 2.47 GAA and a .918 save percentage with three shutouts. Vancouver leads the Pacific Division and trails only Colorado for the league lead in goals scored and on the defensive side the Canucks are tied for No. 4 in goals allowed. Play the Canucks.