by Chuck Sommers
Tuesday, Nov 08, 2022
Time: 7 p.m. ET
Venue: Prudential Center, Newark, NJ
Where to watch: MSGSN
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Devils -125, Flames +105
FanDuel:Devils -134, Flames +112
BetMGM: Devils -115, Flames +105
Caesars: Devils -115, Flames +105
Season record
Flames: 5-4-2 (12 points)
Devils: 9-3-0 (18 points)
What an electric start to the NHL season. So much parity, so many good teams through the first 10-plus games, you have every right to be excited! Of course the Vegas Golden Knights and Boston Bruins are heading the fun charge here as the top two teams in the league, because of course they are. But never count out the Avalanche, you know they're always going to be hanging around and will be eating worlds once they get everyone healthy. But this is a good time to be playing these hockey games, as well. Look no further than our own Vegas Writer off to a 14-11-0 start over the first 30 days of the NHL season. There's also ASA, Inc. posting a 10-5-1 mark through the first month. You know you can trust our champion handicappers to get you across the finish line with your NHL bets. Check out our Best Bets page at bigal.com to see what we're throwing down!
Flames - Devils preview, prediction and analysis
Recent results
Flames: lost 4-3 (OT) at Islanders; lost five straight
Devils: won 4-3 (OT) at Flames; won six straight
Have the New Jersey Devils finally broken through? I still want to believe not as long as Lindy Ruff is there, but hey, they keep winning and look like the best team in the Eastern Conference at the moment. The young talent has put everything together, and the goaltending has been very solid on this run they’re on.
Have the New Jersey Devils finally broken through? I still want to believe not as long as Lindy Ruff is there, but hey, they keep winning and look like the best team in the Eastern Conference at the moment. The young talent has put everything together, and the goaltending has been very solid on this run they’re on.
The Devils will put their six-game winning streak on the line Tuesday at home when they complete the home-and-home with the Calgary Flames, as well as return to New Jersey after sweeping a 3-0 Canadian road trip,
New Jersey won its sixth straight game Saturday, 4-3 in overtime in Calgary to knock off the new-look Flames and send them to another loss. Fabian Zetterlund scored twice, including the game-winner 2:38 into the extra frame to give the Devils the win. Jesper Bratt didn’t score to end his point streak at 11, but man, this team might actually be good.
You have to go back to 2012 to find the last time the Devils won six in a row. It’s really cool, when you think about it.
"We're playing fast and it's been a fun year for us," Devils forward Nathan Bastian said. "It's been preached through our room that we want to play connected. When we're connected, the [defensemen] knows where the forwards are, and the forwards know where the [defensemen] are, and Vitek knows where the rest of us are.
"We're trying to do everything as a team because it's such a hard league to win in. We've had a lot of individuals step up as well."
The way this season started, you’d be hard-pressed to find anyone on the Devils that actually felt like it was a good time to be there. But Bratt has quickly become one of the more electrifying players in the league, Jack Hughes is still finding his way, and the goaltending tandem of Mackenzie Blackwood and Vitek Vanecek has gotten things done, especially Vanececk.
The Flames wish they could say the same of their tandem of Jacob Markstrom and Dan Vladar, but it has been anything but good. Markstrom made 28 saves Monday against the New York Islanders, but the Flames squandered a lead and lost 4-3 in overtime on the road. Mikael Backlund scored twice, but the Flames still found a way to lose five in a row.
"We made some mistakes that cost us," Backlund said. "Maybe that happens when the team isn't feeling at their best, but we've got to turn this around. It starts with one win, and then we've got to go from there."
Prediction
Dan Vladar goes for the second night of the back-to-back, with slight travel, against one of the hottest teams in the league. This is a great chance for the Devils to take advantage of this and get another win. I do wonder how long it’s been since Prudential Center was actually fired up for the Devils. Early November hockey, get hyped. Devils win 4-2
Betting trends
Flames are 22-14 in non-conference games the last three years.
Flames are 9-14 the last five years after five straight games of 30 shots on goal or more.
Devils are 6-0 in non-conference games this season.
Devils are 1-8 the last three years off four straight overs.
Devils are 6-0 this season after scoring four goals or more last game.
Projected lines
Flames:
Jonathan Huberdeau -- Elias Lindholm -- Tyler Toffoli
Dillon Dube -- Nazem Kadri -- Andrew Mangiapane
Blake Coleman -- Mikael Backlund -- Trevor Lewis
Milan Lucic -- Kevin Rooney -- Brett Ritchie
Noah Hanifin -- Rasmus Andersson
Nikita Zadorov -- MacKenzie Weegar
Connor Mackey -- Michael Stone
Dan Vladar
Jonathan Huberdeau -- Elias Lindholm -- Tyler Toffoli
Dillon Dube -- Nazem Kadri -- Andrew Mangiapane
Blake Coleman -- Mikael Backlund -- Trevor Lewis
Milan Lucic -- Kevin Rooney -- Brett Ritchie
Noah Hanifin -- Rasmus Andersson
Nikita Zadorov -- MacKenzie Weegar
Connor Mackey -- Michael Stone
Dan Vladar
Devils:
Tomas Tatar -- Nico Hischier -- Jesper Bratt
Yegor Sharangovich -- Jack Hughes -- Dawson Mercer
Miles Wood -- Erik Haula -- Fabian Zetterlund
Jesper Boqvist -- Michael McLeod -- Nathan Bastian
Jonas Siegenthaler -- Dougie Hamilton
Ryan Graves -- John Marino
Brendan Smith -- Damon Severson
Vitek Vanecek
Tomas Tatar -- Nico Hischier -- Jesper Bratt
Yegor Sharangovich -- Jack Hughes -- Dawson Mercer
Miles Wood -- Erik Haula -- Fabian Zetterlund
Jesper Boqvist -- Michael McLeod -- Nathan Bastian
Jonas Siegenthaler -- Dougie Hamilton
Ryan Graves -- John Marino
Brendan Smith -- Damon Severson
Vitek Vanecek
Statistical leaders
Flames:
Points: Nazem Kadri -- 11
Goals: Nazem Kadri -- 6
Assists: Rasmus Andersson -- 7
Goalie: Jacob Markstrom -- 4-2-1, 2.84 GAA, .900 SV%
Devils:
Points: Jesper Bratt -- 17
Goals: Jesper Bratt -- 5
Assists: Jesper Bratt -- 12
Goalie: Vitek Vanecek -- 5-1-0, 2.21 GAA, .908 SV%
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Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
