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NHL free picks: Devils vs. Islanders and Blues vs. Avalanche
New Jersey Devils center Kyle Palmieri. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire)
January 2nd, 2020
The first Thursday of the year features an NHL prime-time doubleheader. The Devils and Islanders will battle it out in the early window, while the Blues take on the Avalanche in the nightcap. BetAmerica’s previews and predictions are below.
New Jersey Devils at New York Islanders, 7 p.m. ET (NBCSN)
The Devils seek to build on a four-game point streak, as they head to Uniondale, New York to take on the Islanders at Nassau Coliseum on Thursday night.
New Jersey’s leader in points, Kyle Palmieri (27 points), has a goal and four assists over his club’s last four games, three of which were decided via overtime or shootout. He’s been aided by Nico Hischier and Nikita Gusev over this stretch, as that tandem has combined for 11 points. Mackenzie Blackwood, expected to get the nod between the pipes for the Devils once more, owns solid road splits. He has gone 8-4 (5-6-5 at home) with a .916 save percentage (.897 at home).
New Jersey’s leader in points, Kyle Palmieri (27 points), has a goal and four assists over his club’s last four games, three of which were decided via overtime or shootout. He’s been aided by Nico Hischier and Nikita Gusev over this stretch, as that tandem has combined for 11 points. Mackenzie Blackwood, expected to get the nod between the pipes for the Devils once more, owns solid road splits. He has gone 8-4 (5-6-5 at home) with a .916 save percentage (.897 at home).
Kyle Palmieri answers right back for the Devils #NJDevils pic.twitter.com/8qCImJdTTY
— Rob Taub (@RTaub_) December 28, 2019
Mathew Barzal (six points) has played well during the Islanders’ 2-2-1 skid, but secondary scoring has been tough to come by. Josh Bailey, Anthony Beauvillier and Derick Brassard had no goals and just four assists combined over that five-game stretch. Expect the Devils to at least keep things close in Long Island.
NHL free pick: Devils +1.5
St. Louis Blues at Colorado Avalanche, 9:30 p.m. ET (NBCSN)
The Blues will look to start a new win streak at Pepsi Center on Thursday night, after they had their string of eight victories snapped by the Coyotes on Tuesday. They’ll face a spiraling Avalanche team that they defeated 5-2 on December 16.
St. Louis is in a spot it thrives in. The Blues are 11-5 in their last 16 road games and 20-6 in their last 26 games as an underdog. Their power play has cashed in on six of its last 19 chances (31.6%). David Perron has had a hot hand for the Blues, with four goals and six assists in his last seven games. Jordan Binnington, recently named to his first All-Star Game, is expected to be back in net for St. Louis, after he was spelled by Jake Allen in Arizona.
St. Louis is in a spot it thrives in. The Blues are 11-5 in their last 16 road games and 20-6 in their last 26 games as an underdog. Their power play has cashed in on six of its last 19 chances (31.6%). David Perron has had a hot hand for the Blues, with four goals and six assists in his last seven games. Jordan Binnington, recently named to his first All-Star Game, is expected to be back in net for St. Louis, after he was spelled by Jake Allen in Arizona.
Everybody lost track of David Perron... except Ryan O'Reilly. #stlblues pic.twitter.com/CMt3PtT5aF
— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) December 17, 2019
Colorado is 2-5-1 over its last eight games, allowing 32 goals over that span. The Avalanche have dropped six straight to St. Louis, and that streak will probably be extended here. The Blues offer value as road underdogs.
NHL free pick: Blues +115
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