New Jersey Devils vs Anaheim Ducks Prediction: Who will turn out to be stronger?

Prediction for the NHL match which will take place on December 18. Who will turn out to be stronger? Check the team conditions! Several betting options are available.

New Jersey made tremendous progress last season when, with the status of the league outsider, they not only sensationally made it to the playoffs but also overcame the first round of the Stanley Cup. It seemed that they would continue improving their results, but it was not so easy. The Devils started the regular season well, but at the equator of November, they had a bad stretch, losing six games out of seven. Thankfully, they didn't continue their losing streak, winning seven of their last nine games with two losses. This surge has allowed them to move up to 11th place in the Eastern Conference standings.

Anaheim has an opposite performance dynamic in the current regular season. The Californians didn't start the season in the best way, but then they managed to pick up a six-game winning streak but failed to build on that success. On the contrary, everything broke down overnight, which caused their tournament position to deteriorate sharply. Since the second half of November, the Ducks have played 14 games, in which they beat only Colorado in a shootout - 4:3. In the remaining games, they lost, and each time in regulation time, leaving them without any points. Such a weak period led to Black and Orange being only 15th in the Western Conference standings.

New Jersey and Anaheim are approaching the head-to-head confrontation, sitting outside the playoff zone in their respective conferences, and the level of ambition of the teams is very different. The 11th line is a real failure for the Devils, but they've made some serious gains lately, regained a few spots, and intend to keep climbing. Plus, they're already in the Cup Final Eight regarding points lost. For the Ducks, 15th place is a familiar result; they have been the league's underdogs for the last few years, and in 14 previous meetings, they have allowed 13 defeats.

The confrontation between New Jersey and Anaheim in recent years does not spoil high-goal activity. In the previous seven head-to-head meetings, the rivals have suffered only 32 pucks for two (4.57 average per game). Notably, this stretch only once reaches the bookmaker's total over (14%). The Ducks' attack looks especially weak in face-offs, having scored only ten goals in the last six meetings (1.67 average per game).