Columbus Blue Jackets @ New Jersey Devils 12/01/2025
Two Metropolitan rivals, two very different vibes rolling into Newark. On Monday night at the Prudential Center, the New Jersey Devils host the Columbus Blue Jackets in a spot that profiles well for the home side, especially for bettors eyeing moneyline or puck-line angles. New Jersey’s been sturdy at home, skating to a strong win rate in their own building with a clear defensive step-up in front of their crowd. Columbus, meanwhile, has struggled to keep momentum, dropping four of their last five, and it’ll lean on their goaltending to stabilize things.
From a betting perspective, the market has New Jersey priced like a rightful favorite, and the total sits in a range where one key special-teams swing or a goaltending pop can tilt the number. That said, the recent form on both sides hints at a controlled pace more than a track meet. If you’ve watched these teams lately, you’ve seen the Devils tidy up in their D-zone at home, and Columbus try to grind in the trenches to keep it close. This one shapes up as a classic Metro matchup where the first on the board and the team that wins the trenches likely cashes.
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Our betting predictions for Columbus Blue Jackets @ New Jersey Devils
Main Tip: Puck Line – New Jersey Devils -1.5
Puck Line: New Jersey Devils -1.5 at +160 with Fanatics Sportsbook. Why I like it: The Devils’ home splits are real. At the Rock, they’ve been limiting chances and getting timely saves, and their average goal margin at home trends in their favor compared to their road profile. Columbus has been leaky late in games on the road, giving New Jersey a good shot to land an empty-netter if they’re leading in the third. With a posted tag of +160, there’s little value to ride with the home side to win by two or more.
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Expert Tip 2: Moneyline – New Jersey Devils
Moneyline: New Jersey Devils at best odds with BetMGM. Why I like it: Even without Jack Hughes, New Jersey’s home defensive standard, plus Jake Allen’s current form between the pipes, gives them the edge. At home, the Devils allow roughly 2.00 goals per game, and that structure plays against a Blue Jackets group averaging about 3.40 goals per road game but conceding around 3.20 the other way. My projection: 60-62% win probability for New Jersey, which maps to a fair line at BetMGM.
Expert Tip 3: Game Totals – Under 6.0
Total: Under 6.0 at -115 with BetMGM Sportsbook. Why I like it: New Jersey at home is playing a tighter game in front of Allen, while Columbus’ recent scoring form has cooled. With the Devils’ offense missing high-end punch due to injuries and both sides leaning into their structure, this profiles as a game that can stay on the underside unless special teams run hot. Estimated Under probability: 54-56%. Under 6.0 at -115 is a sensible look at BetMGM Sportsbook.
Team Statistics and Form Snapshot
New Jersey Devils (Eastern Conference, Metropolitan Division): New Jersey has banked 25 points through 17 games, translating to about 1.47 points per game, which puts them near the top tier of the Metro. Overall, the Devils are scoring roughly 3.41 goals per game and allowing about 2.94, a healthy positive margin. At home, that defensive number sharpens even more—around 2.00 allowed per game—while they generate roughly 3.38 per game at the Rock. That’s a strong home split and central to the handicap here.
Special teams have been streaky; the power play shows flashes but has gone through cold patches lately, while the penalty kill has trended closer to league average. The biggest on-ice tell in recent weeks is improved puck management through the neutral zone at home, which limits odd-man rushes against. Goaltender Jake Allen has been steady with a .919 save percentage, and that form is reflected in the team’s home defensive results. Faceoffs hover around the league middle, but the Devils have been better in situational draws late. Last five: 3-2, with the last game a home loss to Philadelphia, where lapses late proved costly.
Columbus Blue Jackets (Eastern Conference, Metropolitan Division): Columbus is sitting on 19 points from 17 games (about 1.12 points per game), right now outside the Metro’s top pack. It’s been basically even on the season in terms of scoring—about 3.24 for and 3.24 against per game—yet the recent trend line tilts down, with four losses in their last five. On the road, the Jackets produce around 3.40 goals per game but allow roughly 3.20; that profile keeps them in games but leaves thin margins, especially against teams that close strong in the third.
Special teams are still a swing factor for them—if the power play doesn’t cash, they have to win the 5-on-5 middle. The penalty kill has had pockets of success, but the inconsistency shows in big moments. Columbus expects Elvis Merzlikins to start, with Daniil Tarasov backing up; the Jackets need that first save on the rush and rebound control to avoid second-chance trouble. Faceoff performance is closer to the lower-middle range, which can set up defensive-zone time if they’re chasing the puck. Last five: 1-4, including an overtime setback to Pittsburgh after leading late.
Keyplayer Statistics/Momentum/External Factors
New Jersey is skating without Jack Hughes for an extended stretch, shifting more offensive burden to Jesper Bratt and Nico Hischier under head coach Sheldon Keefe. The Devils’ recent offensive dip means they’re leaning into structure and goaltending, and Allen’s .919 save percentage supports that plan. For Columbus, injuries to key forwards and day-to-day pieces leave some lineup uncertainty, but the crease should feature Elvis Merzlikins, who’ll face a Devils team that prefers to attack off retrievals and east-west puck movement in the offensive zone. Travel and schedule are neutral here with no back-to-backs, and the environment favors New Jersey’s home defensive standard. In short: New Jersey’s blueprint is tidy in their own end and opportunistic in transition; Columbus needs their forecheck and net-front to tilt the ice, plus a special-teams pop.
Last direct match
New Jersey edged Columbus by a single goal on the road in the most recent meeting. The series trend favors the Devils, who have taken four of the last five head-to-heads.
Performance last 5 Matches
- New Jersey Devils: 3 wins, 2 losses
- Columbus Blue Jackets: 1 win, 4 losses
TrustnBet Final Thoughts
Here’s how I see it, folks. This is a Metro grind with a home-ice edge for New Jersey built on structure, goaltending, and a strong third-period profile. Even with injuries shaping their top-six, the Devils’ averages at home—about 3.38 scored and just 2.00 allowed—combine with Allen’s form to make them a worthy favorite. Columbus can hang if their goaltending steals the first save and they win the battles on the wall, but the Jackets’ recent run and road concessions per game make it a tough ask to close out a full 60 in a building where New Jersey is comfortable.
That’s why our three angles line up: moneyline Devils thanks to a 60-62% projection; Under 6.0 at -115 with two teams more likely to play it inside the dots than run-and-gun; and the value swing on the puck line—Devils -1.5 at +160—as the ceiling play if New Jersey gets the first one and can salt it away late. My card prioritizes the puck line for the plus-money pop, backs the moneyline as the anchor, and pairs it with the Under in what profiles as a methodical, home-driven win condition.
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