NHL Picks: New Jersey Devils at Buffalo Sabres
This is a heartbreak or hope game for me, so kindly ignore my various and blatant biases in evaluating this game. I think the Devils can make the playoffs. Here’s why:
1. The Columbus Blue Jackets are about to play three top teams. I think they could lose all three. They were sellers at the deadline and this is a deadly stretch in their schedule.
2. The Devils play the Caps later this week. Win and they leap both non-playoff teams to become the top threat to Columbus’ WC 2 spot.
3. The Devils schedule is relatively soft down the stretch. Three points out with seven to play, they’re a legitimate threat. They just need to get a little bit hot, or even just be consistent, despite their lack of scoring talent.
So, if they believe what I believe, how can they possibly fall to the lowly Buffalo Sabres?
Well that’s an easy one too, and the computer has laid it out for us in the same way. The Devils are in a must-win against a bad team and they have to have this one or the season is in trouble. They should win. But they also have a tendency to let us down. The computer says this is a 50/50, with two stars value and confidence on the Devils. That’s obvious conflict to me at -160. The computer, like us, is confused by the Devils. The two key parameters conflict here, which is traditionally a sign to stay far, far away from this game.
Buffalo is tricky at home. They’re really not so bad on their own ice. The Devils are on a back to back AND on the road. They like to collapse after giving us hope. It’s the Pete DeBoer way. They can pull within a point of the wild card race today, but will they? Man, I sure hope so… but I leap off the side of this cliff fully aware that there may be deadly, jagged rocks hiding below the water. Will you take that leap with me? A sports investor says no, I say don’t, but the thrill-seeking, Devils-loving, homer inside me refuses to give up.
I’m on my Devils: heart, soul, wallet, and reputation. Must-win game. LGD.
Devils 4 – Buffalo 2
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