Chicago Blackhawks vs New Jersey Devils Prediction

Chicago Blackhawks vs New Jersey Devils Prediction - March 29, 2026

Note: Final picks on our picks page may differ from this article's prediction, as they incorporate last-minute goalie confirmations, injury updates, and live odds closer to game time. Always check the picks page for the most up-to-date selections.

The Chicago Blackhawks travel to New Jersey to face the Devils in a matchup that pits a struggling Chicago roster against a hot Devils team heading in opposite directions. With only one win in their last five games, the Blackhawks are searching for consistency, while the Devils have found their stride with three wins in their last five. This Blackhawks vs Devils prediction features a Devils team with significant momentum advantage, but Chicago's talent cannot be completely discounted. Let's break down what the advanced analytics and situational factors tell us about this contest.

Team Form & Recent Performance

Chicago's 4-4-2 record masks deeper concerns. With just one win in their last five games, the Blackhawks have struggled to string together consistent results despite having elite offensive talent on their roster. The team enters this matchup with one day of rest on a normal schedule, which is standard preparation time.

New Jersey presents a starkly different picture. The Devils sit at 6-4-0 and have won three of their last five games, displaying the kind of upward trajectory that typically precedes strong playoff positioning. However, there's a critical factor working against them: New Jersey is playing on zero days rest in a back-to-back situation. This is a significant disadvantage that could affect their depth, defensive intensity, and goaltending performance as the game progresses.

Advanced Stats Comparison

The underlying numbers strongly favor New Jersey across nearly every metric. The Devils dominate in Corsi, posting a 53.42 CF% compared to Chicago's 42.48—a gap that suggests New Jersey controls play and generates more shot volume. The expected goals differential is even more pronounced: New Jersey's xGF% of 54.78 versus Chicago's 36.49 indicates the Devils are creating substantially better scoring chances.

Perhaps most telling is the high-danger chances metric. New Jersey's HDCF% of 50.89 dramatically exceeds Chicago's 32.75, meaning the Devils are generating premium scoring opportunities at a much higher rate. These are the kinds of advanced metrics that correlate with winning hockey—New Jersey has them decisively in their favor.

Goalie Matchup

Sebastien Knight takes the net for Chicago with an 18-20-10 record, while Jake Allen starts for New Jersey at 14-16-1. Both goalies have experienced inconsistency this season, but Allen's team is generating far more offensive support and defensive structure. The back-to-back situation for New Jersey could be a concern for Allen's freshness, potentially exploiting any fatigue in the second or third period.

Goalscorer Picks

For Chicago, Connor Bedard remains the primary anytime goalscorer option—his elite talent should eventually translate to points against a weary Devils defense. Look for Teuvo Teravainen as a value play, as he generates high-danger chances and offers better betting odds than the obvious picks.

New Jersey's Jack Hughes is the marquee goalscorer candidate, capitalizing on the Devils' offensive dominance. Timo Meier represents strong value in the secondary scoring, particularly if he can attack a Blackhawks team that struggles defensively by the advanced metrics.

Prediction

According to WP Hockey Predictor's advanced algorithm, the New Jersey Devils win probability is 53.4%, compared to the Chicago Blackhawks at 46.6%. Our Blackhawks Devils pick favors New Jersey.

The analytics are clear: New Jersey's superior possession rates, expected goals, and high-danger chance generation create a meaningful edge despite playing on the second night of a back-to-back. While the fatigue factor presents some risk, Chicago's defensive metrics are too weak to fully capitalize on any Devils sluggishness. Run your own prediction with our advanced analytics tool to see how different variables impact the game outcome.