Fact checked at 7:17 AM ET, Nov 12, 2026Odds as of 6:21 AM ET, Nov 12, 2026
Washington (10-6-0) and New Jersey (13-6-0) start a home-and-home in Newark at 7:00 PM ET, and they play again in Washington two nights later. The Capitals won the first meeting 4-2 at home earlier this season. New Jersey has gone 9-2-0 since and is 8-2-0 at home. Connor Hellebuyck is expected in goal for the Devils. He's 5-0-0 with a 1.96 goals-against average and a .913 save percentage since they traded for him. They held him out of their last game, a 4-2 loss in Winnipeg, and the plan was for him to start both games against Washington. Washington is expected to go with Logan Thompson (7-4-0, .891).
The Devils are favored, and the total is 6.5. Washington has 55% of the moneyline money on only 22% of the bets, so the larger bets are on the underdog. Neither of our picks takes a side. Alex Tuch is Washington's best finisher, New Jersey's offense runs through Jack Hughes, and we're betting on both to do what they've done most nights. The two picks win in the same game. The Devils score with Hughes involved, and the Capitals keep getting pucks to Hellebuyck, with Tuch taking his share of the shots whether Washington is ahead or behind.
Capitals vs. Devils Predictions
Pick #1Alex Tuch Over 1.5 Shots on Goal−170
Tuch has at least two shots on goal in 13 of Washington's 16 games. He leads the Capitals with 11 goals, five more than any teammate, and no Washington forward plays more than his 19:14 a night. He started the last game on the top line with Dylan Strome and Jordan Kyrou, and he's on the second power-play unit.
It costs a lot to back him. The -170 price carries a 63.0% implied probability, so we went back to last season to see if the habit is real. With Buffalo he had two or more shots in 55 of 79 games, 69.6%, playing 19:00 a night.
New Jersey makes this harder than most teams would. The Devils allow 24.8 shots a game, third-fewest in the league, and Washington averages 27.1. The Capitals have already played six games against teams in the top seven in shots allowed, the Devils among them, and Tuch had at least two shots in five of the six. He had three in the first meeting, when Washington finished with 25. He doesn't need the Capitals to win, either. He had two or more in five of their six losses.
His only game without a shot was the last one. Washington had 17 shots in a 3-2 overtime win in Ottawa, Tuch had none, and the lines were shuffled in the third period. If he comes off Strome's line his role gets smaller, though he hasn't played less than 16:38 in any game.
Pick #2Jack Hughes Over 0.5 Assists−120
Hughes has an assist in each of his last five games, seven assists in all. For the season it's 13 of 19 games, and eight of 10 at home. He leads the Devils with 17 assists and 26 points, so he has had a hand in 26 of their 67 goals.
He centers Arseny Gritsyuk, who has eight goals, and Jesper Bratt, and he's on the top power-play unit. Washington allows 3.31 goals a game, 20th in the league. Thompson's save percentage is .891, and backup Charlie Lindgren's is .881.
The -120 price translates to 54.5%, and this season Hughes is well above it. Last season was closer. He had an assist in 34 of 61 games, 55.7%. Washington also held him without a point in the first meeting, after he had an assist in two of three games against the Capitals last season. So this is a bet on his current form at home. It helps that New Jersey scores 3.53 goals a game. The line with Gritsyuk and Bratt is from the last game, and a change of wingers would weaken the case.
21+ (18+ where permitted). Odds subject to change. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER.
