The New Jersey Devils and Florida Panthers face off again after the Devils shocked Florida with a solid 4-1 victory in their last matchup earlier this season.
The Panthers are eager to prove themselves on home ice and they aim to bounce back in this second game of their home mini-series against New Jersey. We think they can do it and here’s why.
Even the bookmakers think the Panthers look a little different heading into this matchup giving them the favorites for tonight.
Moneyline: Florida Panthers -135, New Jersey Devils +109
Over/Under: 6 goals
For those who want to catch the game for themselves, here’s everything you need to know about the Devils vs. Panthers matchup.
Date: Thursday, November 14, 2024
Time: 7:00 PM ET
Location: Amerant Bank Arena, Florida
TV: ESPN+, MSGSN, SCRIPPS
The Devils are riding high after a big win over Florida, giving them a slight lead in the Eastern Conference standings.
New Jersey’s offense has been somewhat consistent, averaging a decent 3.5 goals per game, and they’re coming into this one with some solid momentum.
Jesper Bratt leads the team with 21 points (5 goals, 16 assists).
Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier have been almost as productive, combining for 36 points.
Goalie Jacob Markstrom holds an 8-4-1 record with a nice 2.54 GAA, and while he’s been solid, he may need to step up to take on Florida’s inevitable pushback.
New Jersey has been surprisingly strong as a road underdog this season as they’re sitting at 7-3-0. This is especially true within the Atlantic Division. They’ve won their last 3 games on the road in the Atlantic and have covered the puck line in 9 back-to-back Thursday games when listed as road underdogs.
The Devils have shown they have the grit to perform in challenging spots like this, but Florida’s hunger for revenge might be a different test altogether.
The Panthers are coming into this matchup looking to redeem themselves after that 4-1 loss. Which, let’s be real, was a rare slip-up at home.
Florida’s 11-4-1 record speaks for itself. However, they’ll need to be sharper this time to reclaim the lead in the Atlantic Division against a team as good as the Devils.
Sam Reinhart has been nearly unstoppable with 24 points, including 12 goals. He’s easily the star of the team.
Sam Bennett and Anton Lundell are also big offensive contributors as they’ve added a combined 29 points.
Goalie Sergei Bobrovsky is expected to be back in net tonight and he’s boasting an 8-2-1 record, though his .895 save percentage shows that he has some inconsistencies.
Florida’s edge lies in their resilience after a loss. On top of that, they have a deeper roster, which we think can overpower the Devils in high-pressure moments.
Their average of 3.6 goals per game is just slightly better than New Jersey’s, and they also tend to perform well as favorites, especially following a defeat.
The Panthers have covered the puck line in 6 of their last 8 games and have won 7 of their last 8 outright, telling us that they’re primed to bounce back in this game.
In this matchup, the Florida Panthers seem like they’re able to bounce back.
Their strong track record at home and the motivation to even out the series after a disappointing loss should push them to keep the pressure on tonight. We expect Bobrovsky’s return to be a game-changer in the net, making it a bit tougher for the Devils to replicate Tuesday’s success.
BettorsInsider Devils vs Panthers Prediction: Florida Panthers on the Moneyline (-135).
Florida’s consistency, depth, and their slight advantage in scoring should be just enough to secure the win tonight. It will be a close game, so we won’t take the puck line, but the moneyline should be a solid bet.