The New Jersey Devils return home to host the Montreal Canadiens tonight at the Prudential Center in Newark.
New Jersey went 1-1-1 on its Atlantic Division road trip against three tough opponents. The Devils are still without a few key players, including Jack Hughes. Meanwhile, the Canadiens are coming off an upset win at home against the Avalanche, which ended a three-game losing streak.
Can the shorthanded Devils protect the fort at home or will the Habs pull off the upset relative to the NHL odds?
Read on for our Canadiens vs. Devils NHL picks and predictions on Wednesday, January 17.
Canadiens vs Devils odds
Canadiens vs Devils predictions
The New Jersey Devils entered this season with high expectations but are still battling for a playoff spot at the halfway mark. They sit at 22-16-3 on the season and haven't been great at home with a 9-9-2 record.
"I think with the number of personnel we've had out, we played well enough to win the game in Tampa, played well enough to win in Florida and we gave ourselves a chance (in Boston)," Devils coach Lindy Ruff said. "The goalie gave us a chance early on, I thought our second period was strong, we just didn't find a way to put the puck in the net."
Injuries have played a huge part in the Devils' decline this season. Dougie Hamilton is expected to miss the next few months with a pectoral injury, fellow defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler is out indefinitely as well, and three of New Jersey's top nine forwards — Jack Hughes, Timo Meier, and Ondrej Palat — remain out.
Another issue in New Jersey has been goaltending. Vitek Vanecek and Akira Schmid both have goals-against averages above 3.25 and save percentages below .895. Nico Daws has been a saving grace in his five starts, going 3-2-0 with a 2.63 GAA and .921 SV%. It will be Daws between the pipes in New Jersey tonight.
On the other side, the Montreal Canadiens may be outperforming expectations a bit with a 18-18-7 record and a respectable 9-7-4 away mark. Sam Montembeault (9-6-4, 2.89 GAA, .909 SV%) is slated to get the start in the first half of a back-to-back set for Montreal.
The Canadiens' win against Colorado doesn't change the fact that they've been massively outplayed recently, though. Montreal has the worst shot attempt share in the league at 42.40% at 5-on-5 over the last 10 games. Meanwhile, the Devils are in the middle of the pack at 51.88%.
Where both of these teams have aligned is in the total market. The Over is 22-20-1 in Montreal games and 25-15-1 for New Jersey contests. That includes the first meeting between the Devils and Canadiens with New Jersey coming away with a 5-2 win in Montreal back in October.
Before the Devils' shutout loss in Boston, they'd scored 21 goals in their previous five games while also allowing 16, an average of over seven per game. Both of these teams can put the puck in the net and don't exactly have stout defenses. Take the Over 6.5 at even money tonight
My best bet: Over 6.5 (+100 at SIA)
Not intended for use in MA.
Affiliate Disclosure: Covers may receive advertising commissions for visits to a sportsbook or betting site.
Canadiens vs Devils same-game parlay
Over 6.5
Canadiens +1.5
The Canadiens and Devils should play some open hockey tonight. Both teams have been up and down recently while playing tougher opponents. With all due respect to the Devils, they're no longer that tough of an opponent with all of their missing pieces.
As a result, we’re adding in the underdog Canadiens to keep the game close. Their moneyline odds have come down a bit too far, but adding them at +1.5 makes this a nice +220 same-game parlay.
The Canadiens have only won two of their last five games, but those other three losses all came by one goal — including two in overtime. They've been playing close games recently and the Devils are susceptible with all of their injuries.
Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.
Welcome to Sports Interaction 2.0
Looking to bet on some NHL action? Join Sports Interaction, the best in Canada for new bettors, with a brand-new platform featuring same-game parlays, increased prop markets, and more!
Canadiens vs Devils moneyline and Over/Under analysis
The Canadiens' odds opened much higher but they're now down to +150 on Sports Interaction. In turn, the Devils odds are now -185 as home favorites.
The total is set at 6.5 with the Over 6.5 paying off +100 and the Under 6.5 at -120.
I’d back the road Canadiens as underdogs as well as the Over 6.5 here.
Canadiens vs Devils betting trend to know
The New Jersey Devils have hit the Game Total Over in 53 of their last 91 games (+13.50 Units / 13% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Canadiens vs. Devils.
Not intended for use in MA.
Affiliate Disclosure: Covers may receive advertising commissions for visits to a sportsbook or betting site.
Canadiens vs Devils game info
| Location: | Prudential Center, Newark, NJ |
| Date: | Wednesday, January 17, 2024 |
| Puck drop: | 7:00 p.m. ET |
| TV: | SN, MSGSN |
Canadiens vs Devils latest injuries
Stay updated with the latest picks, odds, and news! Tap the 
to add us to your favorites on Google News to never miss a story.
