New Jersey Devils @ Nashville Predators - February 23, 2025

Looking ahead to the match-up between the New Jersey Devils and the Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena, there’s a palpable sense of anticipation. Both teams find themselves in critical phases of their respective seasons, and this game will be a test of resilience for each.

The Devils come into this contest with a record of 26-15-5, demonstrating a solid offensive presence by averaging 3.0 goals per game. They’ve shown an impressive shooting percentage of just over 10.9%. However, it’s worth noting that they’re struggling somewhat against the spread; they’ve gone 1-12 ATS on the road lately. Their last outing resulted in a disappointing 4-2 loss against the Stars, where their defensive efforts allowed for six total goals – an area they’ll need to tighten up if they want to secure a win here.

On the other hand, we have Nashville with a record of 14-22-7. While they’ve been finding ways to get results like their recent narrow victory against Colorado (2-1), their overall offensive stats leave something to be desired—averaging only about 2.6 goals per game and possessing a shooting percentage hovering around 9.2%. This lack of firepower may prove detrimental against New Jersey’s relatively tighter defense that boasts a save percentage of around 90.6%.

In terms of special teams play, both squads show contrasting capabilities on power plays: The Devils excel with a power play success rate close to 27.5%, which can be pivotal in tightly contested matches like this one when every goal counts significantly more than usual. Conversely, Nashville’s power play sits lower at approximately 21%, which could hinder them from capitalizing during crucial moments.

Looking back at previous encounters or trends can provide some insights into what might unfold on Sunday evening; New Jersey has struggled recently covering spreads while playing away but possesses an offense that can ignite quickly if given opportunities—especially against Nashville’s penalty kill which stands at roughly 80.86%.

Defensively speaking, though both teams are capable in net—Nashville managing an admirable save percentage but lagging behind defensively compared to New Jersey—the latter has shown consistency as evidenced by their higher penalty kill success rate (84%). If they manage to stay disciplined and limit penalties, it could allow them more time controlling the puck offensively rather than chasing it back down.

Given these assessments and considering current form along with statistical outputs from both teams, I would lean toward predicting that New Jersey will likely take this game while also covering the spread thanks to its better overall record and ability to score effectively even away from home turf.

Ultimately though, with Nashville fighting hard for points amid struggles this season—it wouldn’t be surprising if they put forth an unexpected challenge despite being underdogs in this scenario—but I still see them falling short as I believe total scoring will stay under due primarily to both sides’ fluctuating performances recently on offense versus superior defensive setups going head-to-head here today.