New Jersey Devils vs Chicago Blackhawks Prediction: Will Lindy Ruff's team pick up a crucial win?

Prediction for the NHL match which will take place on January 6. Who will turn out to be stronger? Check the team conditions! Several betting options are available.

By the end of the first half of the championship, the Devils returned to the race for the playoff zone. Currently, the team is four points behind the top-3 in the Metropolitan Division and just one point behind the top-8 in the Eastern Conference.

New Jersey beat Washington on the road in the previous game without much trouble. 6:3 - Hisher, McLeod, and Mercer scored two goals each. This win was the fourth for the Devils in the last five games.

The only thing the Blackhawks are fighting for this season is the last spot in the Western Conference, which gives them the best chance for a high pick in the draft lottery. So far, they are behind the San Jose, who are last in the West.

The matchup with New Jersey will be Chicago's fifth straight-away game. The Blackhawks lost the first four, scoring only one point. The team lost twice to Dallas (4:5 in overtime and 1:8) and failed to cope with Nashville (0:3) and New York Rangers (1:4).

New Jersey allows almost 30 shots on its goal on average per game. Chicago hits the net more than 26 per game. The Blackhawks' shot total for the upcoming game is 24.5. That doesn't seem enough, so we'll take the TO here. Besides, in the first face-to-face meeting between the rivals in this championship, Chicago had 34 shots, while New Jersey had 41.

Besides, we're betting on New Jersey. Lindy Ruff's team is pursuing the wild-card spot and can't afford to falter in a home game against an outsider.