Devils vs Rangers Prediction, Odds & Best Bet for NHL Playoffs Game 1 (Back Jack Hughes to Score in Playoff Debut)

Devils vs Rangers Prediction, Odds & Best Bet for NHL Playoffs Game 1 (Back Jack Hughes to Score in Playoff Debut)

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The 2022-23 NHL Playoffs continue on Tuesday with an exciting showdown between the New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils.

Devils vs. Rangers Game Info

  • New Jersey Devils (52-22-8) vs. New York Rangers (47-22-13)
  • Date: Tuesday, April 18, 2023
  • Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
  • Venue: Prudential Center -- Newark, New Jersey
  • Coverage: TBS, SN360, and TVAS2

The Rangers are back in the postseason for the third time in the last four years, while the Devils are back for the first time since 2018. New York owns an all-time playoff record of 18-16-0 against New Jersey.

Devils vs. Rangers Odds & Spread

  • All NHL betting lines, odds and prop bets are from FanDuel Sportsbook.
  • Moneyline: NJ: (-132) | NYR: (+110)
  • Spread: NJ: -1.5 (+188) | NYR: +1.5 (-230)
  • Total: 5.5 -- Over: (-134) | Under: (+110)

The Devils enter this contest as slight home favorites on the moneyline and spread per FanDuel Sportsbook's odds. This 7 p.m. ET clash also features an over/under of 5.5 goals, with the over favored at -134 odds.

Favorite Underdog Total Spread
Devils (-132) Rangers (+110) 6.5 Devils (-1.5)

Devils vs. Rangers Betting Trends

  • New Jersey is 5-0 straight up in its last five home games.
  • The total has hit the over in five of New Jersey's last five games.
  • The Rangers are 10-4 straight up in their last 14 games against New Jersey.
  • The total has hit the under in seven of the Rangers' last nine away games.

Devils vs. Rangers Prediction & Pick

This is the first time the Rangers and Devils are meeting in the postseason since 2012. The rivalry nicknamed "The Battle of the Hudson River" has lived up to the hype with intense games this season. New Jersey finished with a 3-0-1 record against New York, emerging victorious in both home games.

Expect more of the same on Tuesday. Both of these teams rank among the 10 youngest in the NHL, but it's the Devils that check in fourth in penalty kill and sixth in goals allowed per home game this year. They have the recipe in front of them to match what has been a dominant Rangers' defense.

New Jersey owns a respectable 24-13-4 record at home this season, so back the Devils in Game 1.

Final Score Prediction: Devils: 3 | Rangers: 2

Devils vs. Rangers Best Bet

The Devils' young core is led by 21-year-old phenom Jack Hughes, who paced the team in both goals (43) and assists (56) during the regular season. He stepped up against the Rangers by scoring 4 goals across the four head-to-head contests as well. Hughes will get his first taste of playoff hockey on Tuesday and it comes at the Prudential Center, where he has scored in three of his last five games.

Bet: Jack Hughes Anytime Goal Scorer (+150)

Larry Rupp is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, Larry Rupp also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username phillyfan424. While the strategies and player selections recommended in his articles are his personal views, he may deploy different strategies and player selections when entering contests with his personal account. The views expressed in their articles are the author's alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel. 

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.