Washington Capitals - New Jersey Devils predictions and free betting tips [21/02/2024]

The Washington Capitals will be hosting the New Jersey Devils as part of the regular NHL season.

Washington Capitals

The Washington Capitals are on a recovery path after a series of failures, having lost 8 out of 9 matches, but they managed to turn the tide by claiming victory over the Montreal Canadiens with a score of 4:3 in their latest match. This triumphant away game, marked by resilience and resolve, accrued crucial points in their fight for the playoffs.

Alex Ovechkin, as team captain, extended his point series to 8 games, demonstrating high-level gameplay and leadership skills. The Capitals now occupy the sixth position in the Metropolitan Division, trailing by nine points behind the Philadelphia Flyers, who hold the last guaranteed playoff spot. Following their victory, Ovechkin's team has improved their odds to 3-7 in the last 10 games. As of Tuesday, the Capitals lagged 19 points behind the Rangers, who hold the top spot. Their gap from Detroit in the battle for the final Eastern Conference playoff spot is 8 points.

New Jersey Devils

The New Jersey Devils are striving to solidify their positions after a fruitful performance against the Philadelphia Flyers, achieving a 6:3 victory. This achievement enabled the Devils to cut their lag behind the Flyers in the Metropolitan Division to five points. Backed by a crowd of 70,328 spectators and national television coverage, the Devils displayed an exceptional play, especially Nico Hischier, the team captain, who drove his team to success with shining performance, scoring two goals, and making one assist. This victory over the Flyers, a direct rival in the playoff race, holds special significance for the team.

Hischier stood out not only for his point production but also for his leadership skills, showing a high standard of play and inspiring his teammates. Defenceman Brendan Smith highlighted his vital contribution to the team's success. In the last 8 games, Hischier compiled 12 points, reaffirming his star player status. At MetLife Stadium, the Devils have beaten Philadelphia for the third time in four meetings, improving their season record to 28-22-4. The Devils sit fourth in the Metropolitan Division, trailing 15 points behind the Rangers and two points behind the Red Wings in the wild-card run. The team currently sits eighth in goals scored, however, they struggle with defensive issues, ranking 26th in goals allowed per game with 3.41.

Head-to-head meetings

On 4 January 2024, New Jersey triumphed over Washington with a 6:3 score. On 11 November 2023, Washington took their revenge by defeating New Jersey 4:2. The October 26 meeting saw a Washington victory of 6:4, but New Jersey responded with an overtime win on April 14th, scoring 5:4. Another game on March 10 ended with a New Jersey shootout victory scoring 3:2, underscoring the even levels and intensity of the rivalry between these two teams.

Washington Capitals vs. New Jersey Devils Match Prediction

With just 4 points separating the East teams in the fight for playoffs, Ovechkin's team has a game in hand and the opportunity to close in not only on New Jersey but also on the 8th-place holder, Detroit. Placing a bet on Washington’s victory seems plausible.