Welcome back to another NHL Predictions here at Last Word On Hockey! Everyday, we provide analysis, insights, and predictions for every NHL game. Tonight, the St. Louis Blues wrap up their five-game road trip and head home for Thanksgiving with a stop at the Prudential Center against the New Jersey Devils.
NHL Predictions: St. Louis Blues vs New Jersey Devils
Time: 7:00 P.M. EST
How to Watch: FanDuel Sports Network Midwest, MSG Sports Network 2
2024-2025 Season Series: Blues 1-1-0
2025-2026 Season Series: 0-0-0
Though American Thanksgiving is tomorrow, these two teams are going about their business like any other day. Due to the Olympic Break, half of the NHL schedule will have been played by January. Teams sitting in a playoff position at that time, are statistically more likely to make the Stanley Cup playoffs at the end of the year. Unfortunately, only one of these two teams are currently there.
The New Jersey Devils have made the postseason in just three of the last ten years. In those three runs, they only managed one series win. Right now, they enter tonight in playoff position but with a (1-3-0) record in their last four. The Devils finish up a two-game homestand tonight after beating the Detroit Red Wings on Monday. They are still without star forward Jack Hughes, who was injured earlier this month while out at a team dinner. Reports indicated he cut his hand and after surgery, his timeline for return is roughly mid-January.
For St. Louis, they are looking at a positive end to the trip, in which they are currently 1-1-2. Capping off this road trip with a win and heading back home for the holiday might be exactly what the Blues need. They are coming off of a 3-2 loss to the Rangers on Monday night. Despite their location in the standings, the Blues are playing solid hockey. Are they playing a full game every night? No… Are the star players producing? Some nights… Is the season officially over for the Blues? Not yet.
Blues Fall Short
St. Louis lost their first game in regulation on this five game trip Monday against the Rangers. After scoring an early goal, New York responded with three goals of their own, which proved to be too much for the Blues.
Head coach Jim Montgomery did not like his team’s play in the first two periods, even though they had a lead. He felt the three previous games had a lot of support and aggressiveness, which lacked a majority of their time against the Rangers.
Logan Mailloux returned to the Blues lineup after being sent down to the AHL earlier this month. In his post-game interview, Jim Montgomery said he liked the way he played and that even though the results weren’t there for the player. Still, Mailloux played a solid game and was rewarded with crucial power play time at the end of the game.
New Jersey Bounces Back
The Devils found themselves back in the win column after dropping three straight. Tuesday night saw a physical clash with the Red Wings that ended with a line scrum after the final buzzer.
The Devils were outshot by Detroit 35-20. Much of the play was carried by the Red Wings but New Jersey was able to claw their way on top, much to the pleasure of head coach Sheldon Keefe.
With their win Tuesday night, the Devils have points in all nine of their first home games. The franchise record is ten games, set back in the 2016-2017 season. The win also moves them into a tie with the Colorado Avalanche for being the only teams without a loss at home during regulation this season.
NHL Predictions:
There is irony to be found in the fact the New York Rangers have the worst home record, but just 14 miles away, the Devils have one of the best. There is an abundance of parity in this league but momentum is a fickle thing…
Dylan Holloway continued his strong play Tuesday night, scoring his sixth goal of the year. Three of the Blues six defencemen in the lineup added an assist to the two goals scored. Pavel Buchnevich assisted on another Brayden Schenn goal for the second straight game.
The Devils had four different goal scorers Monday night, and seven total skaters earning points. Jacob Markstrom stopped 32 Detroit shots to improve his personal season record to 6-3-1. Former Blues goalie Jake Allen is his backup, whose numbers are also nothing to scoff at.
Prediction: New Jersey wins 3-2.
Prop Bets
The over/under for this one is at 5.5 goals. After predicting a 3-2 New Jersey win, we will take the under at -105. With how active the Blues defencemen have been, and just how good he has looked of late, we’re going to take Cam Fowler with an anytime goal at +800! On the other side of the ice, Nico Hischier is averaging only .32 goals per game. At -250, we’re taking the under that he will be held goalless tonight.
Main Photo Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images
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The post NHL Predictions: November 26th St. Louis Blues vs New Jersey Devils appeared first on Last Word On Hockey.