New Jersey Devils vs. Boston Bruins Pick & Prediction APRIL 15th 2025

Preview and Prediction

The New Jersey Devils, who have already secured a spot in the playoffs, will be facing the Boston Bruins in their final road game of the regular season on Tuesday. This game will also mark the beginning of a back-to-back series to close out the season.

With a record of 41-32-7 and 89 points, the Devils are hoping to end their three-game losing streak and regain their momentum before the playoffs begin. Their recent skid began with a 7-2 loss to the Bruins last week.

Over the past three games, the Devils have been outscored 12-4, including a narrow 1-0 defeat to the New York Islanders on Sunday. This was their seventh shutout loss of the season.

"As we head into the playoffs, we want to be feeling good and not losing games," said Devils forward Erik Haula. "We have two games left and we need to get back in the win column and build some confidence for the playoffs."

Coach Sheldon Keefe and the Devils, who have already secured the third spot in the Metropolitan Division, will be looking to keep their lineup healthy in their final two games against the Bruins and the Detroit Red Wings. They will also be aiming to bring a playoff intensity to these games.

"We play to win, no matter what," said Devils defenseman Luke Hughes. "Even if the points don't matter, we play to win and we play for the full 60 minutes. I'm disappointed with our performance on Sunday, but we played hard and just need to keep pushing and bring our best game next time."

Devils goaltender Jacob Markstrom, who missed 11 games due to a knee injury earlier in the season, made several impressive saves in Sunday's game against the Islanders. Coach Keefe praised his performance, saying, "Marky was really solid, even though he wasn't tested much. It's definitely a positive for us moving forward."

The Bruins, who will be playing their final game of the season, are looking to end on a high note and potentially climb out of the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings. They have had many new players in their lineup since the trade deadline in March, and two more rookies were called up from the AHL on Monday.

"It's tough to judge a player based on just one game, but it's definitely an eye-opening experience for these young players," said Bruins interim coach Joe Sacco. "They get to see the pace and skill of NHL players, which is something they may have only experienced in the preseason."

Devils forward Marc McLaughlin, who was acquired from the Bruins at the trade deadline, was called up from the AHL on Monday and could potentially face his former team in Tuesday's game.

The Bruins are coming off a 4-1 win against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Sunday, with Fabian Lysell scoring his first NHL goal and Morgan Geekie extending his point streak to 10 games. Leading scorer David Pastrnak has also been on fire, with points in nine straight games and eight goals in that span.

"I already knew he was a special player, but seeing it first-hand just confirms it even more," said Lysell of Pastrnak. "His hockey sense and shot are both elite, so it's really cool to see."

As the season comes to a close, Sacco's future as the Bruins' interim coach remains uncertain. He hopes his team can put forth one more strong effort in their final game.

"Looking back at our journey as a team this season, there have been a lot of changes," said Sacco. "As the coach, I'm just going to try to enjoy this last game and take it all in. We've played some good games lately, so it's nice to see that progress."

PREDICTION

New Jersey Devils

3

2

Boston Bruins