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N.J. Devils vs. Washington Capitals Pick
The Capitals are on a six-game winning streak and wins in seven of their last eight games. The recent success for the Capitals can be accredited to Braden Holtby. Defensively the Caps were getting torched over the first month of the season. Even a team with Alexander Ovechkin on it wasn’t going to win many games with their defence playing so poorly, including Holtby in net.
Holtby has been locked in, though, and the wins are beginning to show as a result. He’s allowed 2 or less goals in six of his previous seven appearances in net. Note that the Caps have been doing this all without Kuznetsov and Oshie. Two offensive weapons that they’ve depended on, though Washington has been doing just fine without them, at least so far. When it gets closer to the end of the season, they’re going to want to have those two healthy. There is a chance that Kuznetsov returns to the lineup this evening.
The Devils have been playing some sad hockey on the road this season. They have just 2 wins for a 2-9-1 record on the road. The numbers haven’t been good, with 2.33 goals scored per game and 4.17 goals allowed per game. Between Kinkaid and Schneider, their save percentage is 0.872 on the road. Neither have been able to take control and grab the reins in net.
Schneider has been the most disappointing with a 4.27 GAA and 0.863 save percentage. The Capitals have notched 3.42 goals per game and 2.5 against at home in Washington. The Devils are 3-13 in their last sixteen meetings with the Capitals and 1-6 in Washington. Ride the wave of momentum with the Capitals on Friday night.
