Florida Panthers vs. New Jersey Devils Predictions, Picks and NHL Preview – January 9, 2017

Florida Panthers vs. New Jersey Devils Betting Preview

Where: Prudential Center – Newark, New Jersey

When: Monday, January 9, 2017, 7:00 PM ET

Line: Florida Panthers (+1.5) vs. New Jersey Devils (-1.5); total: 5.0 – view all NHL lines

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Betting on the Florida Panthers (17-16-8)

Point Spread: +1.5

To say that Florida’s 2016-17 season has been a disappointment would be a severe understatement. After setting a franchise-record 103 points last campaign, the Panthers looked set to be one of the NHL’s top teams this season. That hasn’t been the case at all for the Panthers as they have slumped to a 17-16-8 record this season. Not even the firing of head coach Gerard Gallant can lift Florida’s flagging fortunes as they are just 6-6-7 since Tom Rowe took over the reins last November.

Not helping the Panthers’ cause is their growing injury situation. Greg McKegg injured his upper body in the loss to the Bruins and joins Nick Bjugstad, Alexsander Barkov and Jonathan Huberdeau on the sidelines. The good news for Florida is that goalkeeper Roberto Luongo has recovered from his illness and is expected to return for tonight’s clash against New Jersey. He will help shore up a Panthers’ defense that absorbed a 4-0 shellacking at the hands of the Boston Bruins on Saturday night.

The biggest problem, however, for Florida is at the other end of the ice with the Panthers recording just 14 goals over their last eight games. They have squandered 11 power-play opportunities in their past three outings. The pressure then is on Jonathan Marchessault and Vincent Trocheck to score some goals against the Devils tonight. They’re the only Florida players to reach double digits in goals thus far this season.

The Panthers are 3-7 in their last 10 road games.

Betting on the New Jersey Devils (16-17-8)

Point Spread: -1.5

Another team that’s struggling mightily right now is New Jersey. With their 2-1 defeat to Edmonton on Saturday, the slumping Devils have now lost 19 of their last 26 games. Just like last season, offense has been the main problem for this former Eastern Conference powerhouse. They are averaging just 2.24 goals per contest this season, the third-worst mark in the NHL. Last year, the Devils finished last in offense with a paltry average of 2.22 goals per game.

To make matters worse for the Devils, they’re having trouble on the defensive end as well. They’re allowing teams an average of 31.3 shots per game this season, the seventh-highest total in the NHL. Cory Schneider did his best to address that flaw, stopping a whopping 41 shots on Saturday. Unfortunately for Schneider, New Jersey misfired once again with their attack, mustering just 20 shots and a single goal against the Oilers. The Devils have produced just 15 goals in their last eight games. One guy who needs to step up for the Devils tonight is Taylor Hall. The left winger leads the team in points scored (25) this season.

The Devils are 3-7 in their last 10 home games.

Writer’s Prediction

New Jersey (-1.5) edges past Florida, 4-3.

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