New Jersey Devils vs Los Angeles Kings prediction
New Jersey Devils
The Devils' playoff hopes from the Eastern Conference and their chances of making it into the top 8 look pretty bleak. Coach Sheldon Keefe's team has been incredibly inconsistent this season and is currently stuck in a precarious position, second-to-last in the conference and trailing 12 points behind the playoff cutoff. New Jersey's back-to-back losses in the regular season all but seal their postseason fate. Their recent performance in Canada against Calgary ended in a high-scoring 4-5 shootout, just four days after a dismal 0-3 home defeat by Detroit. These outcomes likely fuel the prevailing viewpoint that significant changes and reinforcements are bound to occur over the summer, with the Devils merely playing out the remainder of this season. Against the Flames, they were playing catch-up from the start, with scores like 0-2, 1-3, and 2-4, but they still managed to close it in at 4-5 thanks to Jack Hughes scoring with just four seconds left in the third period. While their modest progress in offensive plays helped them a bit, their 13th-ranked defense couldn't seal the deal positively. The Devils are currently in the middle of a home game series. Against the Kings, players like MacEwen, Nosek, and Pesce will be missing in action.
Los Angeles Kings
Last night, Los Angeles finally broke into the temporary top 8 in the Western Conference, clinching a gritty 3-2 win on the road against the Islanders. Considering it's the second leg of a road game back-to-back, Coach Smith's team enters as the underdog in this matchup. However, with close proximity between Jersey and New York, and a burning desire to cement their spot in the top 8, all fatigue seems to disappear. The Kings took an early 3-0 lead in the first period against the Islanders with usual suspects Kopitar and Kempe making impactful plays, then switched to a defensive hold allowing just a double from Heineman. Boosted by the 7th best defense in the league, they’ve positioned themselves for a playoff run, and this defense might once again serve as the critical X-factor against New Jersey. However, they will have to manage without Armia, Fiala, and Kuzmenko in this matchup.
Prediction
In November, LA was dealt a 1-4 loss at home by their opponent, but motivations were different then as both teams were just getting into the season. Now, with the situation crystal clear, it makes perfect sense to back the visitors for picking up points in this match. The Devils seem to have taken their foot off the pedal, winding down the season, while Los Angeles is clawing to maintain their top 8 status. Given their defensive strength and driven attitude, there's little doubt about the Kings’ ability to grab points in this encounter, especially considering Jersey lost their last two home games. For the hosts, it seems falling further behind is within the realm of possibility.
