PREMIUM
3-Game NHL SWEEPER PASS
(NHL) Colorado vs. New Jersey,
Money Line: -146.00 New Jersey (Home)
Result: Win
Money Line: -146.00 New Jersey (Home)
Result: Win
The set-up: The 2017-18 NHL season got underway on Wednesday but the New Jersey Devils take to the ice for the first time this afternoon in a home game against the Colorado Avalanche. The Devils finished 28-40-14 (8th in the Metropolitan Division last season), while the Avalanche finished with a league-worst 48 points last season (21 fewer than any other team). Last season was a total 'wash' for Colorado, as the Avalanche finished last in the league in goals per game (2.01), goals allowed (3.37), power-play efficiency (12.6) and second to last on the penalty kill (77.3%). However, surprised the New York Rangers 4-2 at Madison Square Garden on Thursday, ending a 12-game road losing streak.
Colorado: Veteran Semyon Varlamov was limited to 23 starts last season before undergoing hip surgery, but he showed what a difference maker he can be with a 37-save performance against the Rangers. "That's what we're hoping he can be," Colorado head coach Jared Bednar said. "We don't want to get into a game where we're relying on him every night, but we're going to need him on some of those nights." Matt Duchene, who went from 30 goals in 2015-16 to 18 last season, got off to a fast start by scoring once and adding an assist.
New Jersey: After its poor season, New Jersey made quite a few changes to its roster during the off-season. The Devils acquired 24-goal scorer Marcus Johansson from the Capitals to help bolster an attack that scored a conference-low 183 goals in 2016-17. They also signed free agent forwards Drew Stafford, Jimmy Hayes and Brian Boyle, though Boyle is on the injured list while being treated for chronic myeloid leukemia. New Jersey infused some youth to its defense corps by acquiring 22-year-old Mirco Mueller from San Jose and signing college free agent Will Butcher, the reigning Hobey Baker Award winner. However, the most exciting new addition is Nico Hischier, whom the Devils selected first overall in June's draft. The Swiss-born center had a solid preseason, scoring a goal in his first outing and finishing the exhibition games with a team-high four goals and seven points. "It is a dream come true," Hischier told reporters about making the opening-night roster. "As a young player, you dream about this moment to play your first game. Finally, it comes up and I am really excited, really happy." The Devils will need a bounce-back year from Cory Schneider, who spiraled to a 2.82 goals-against average and .908 save percentage last season, well off his marks in his previous three years with the club.
The pick: Colorado finished 9-30-2 on the road last season, winning back-to-back games away from home only once the entire year. No reason to expect Colorado to open 2-0 on the road here, in new Jersey's season-opener. Make the Devils an 8* play.
Colorado: Veteran Semyon Varlamov was limited to 23 starts last season before undergoing hip surgery, but he showed what a difference maker he can be with a 37-save performance against the Rangers. "That's what we're hoping he can be," Colorado head coach Jared Bednar said. "We don't want to get into a game where we're relying on him every night, but we're going to need him on some of those nights." Matt Duchene, who went from 30 goals in 2015-16 to 18 last season, got off to a fast start by scoring once and adding an assist.
New Jersey: After its poor season, New Jersey made quite a few changes to its roster during the off-season. The Devils acquired 24-goal scorer Marcus Johansson from the Capitals to help bolster an attack that scored a conference-low 183 goals in 2016-17. They also signed free agent forwards Drew Stafford, Jimmy Hayes and Brian Boyle, though Boyle is on the injured list while being treated for chronic myeloid leukemia. New Jersey infused some youth to its defense corps by acquiring 22-year-old Mirco Mueller from San Jose and signing college free agent Will Butcher, the reigning Hobey Baker Award winner. However, the most exciting new addition is Nico Hischier, whom the Devils selected first overall in June's draft. The Swiss-born center had a solid preseason, scoring a goal in his first outing and finishing the exhibition games with a team-high four goals and seven points. "It is a dream come true," Hischier told reporters about making the opening-night roster. "As a young player, you dream about this moment to play your first game. Finally, it comes up and I am really excited, really happy." The Devils will need a bounce-back year from Cory Schneider, who spiraled to a 2.82 goals-against average and .908 save percentage last season, well off his marks in his previous three years with the club.
The pick: Colorado finished 9-30-2 on the road last season, winning back-to-back games away from home only once the entire year. No reason to expect Colorado to open 2-0 on the road here, in new Jersey's season-opener. Make the Devils an 8* play.
