The Detroit Red Wings'and New Jersey Devils open their NHL seasons' Thursday night in Newark. The opening puck drop at the Prudential Center is slated for 7:30 p.m. ET. Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s (OR FanDuel Sportsbook’s) lines around the Red Wings vs. Devils'odds, and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
Look for the Red Wings to be an improved team coming off their 80-point campaign (7th-place finish in the Atlantic Division) a year ago. Lots of new faces — including LW J.T. Compher, who has 52 points for the Colorado Avalanche last season, and former 40-goal scorer RW Alex DeBrincat — join a core that has been rebuilding and seems on the verge of competing.
The Devils surprised everyone when they broke out with a franchise record in points (112) and wins (52) in 2022-23. But New Jersey was young and it showed in a 2nd-round exit from the Stanley Cup playoffs. As the Devils look to build on last season’s success, they do so perhaps having holes to fill on the blue line and with a goaltending tandem that has much to prove.
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