Toronto Maple Leafs vs. New Jersey Devils Prediction, NHL Odds
The New Jersey Devils are -120 on the NHL odds with a total of 5.5 goals.
Maple Leafs vs. Devils NHL Betting Odds
The New Jersey Devils really haven’t made much noise in the NHL since losing in the 2012 Stanley Cup Final to Los Angeles. The team has reached the playoffs just three times since and won a single series. There are many reasons why the franchise took a few steps backward. Goaltending was a big one after Hall of Famer Martin Brodeur left following the 2013-14 campaign.
New Jersey thought it solved its goalie problem in June 2024 by sending a 2025 first-round pick and more to Calgary for Jacob Markstrom. He had a fine 2024-25 campaign and helped get the team into the playoffs but has fallen back this season and been outplayed by No. 2 and former Montreal Canadien Jake Allen. The Devils simply have too much talent not to return to the post-season, but it’s not looking good sitting second-to-last in the Eastern Conference. New Jersey is +1400 for extra hockey.
Toronto is barely ahead of the Devils in the East, so it’s not happening for the Maple Leafs, either. This marks the third meeting of the season between the clubs and only one in Newark. The winner takes the season series as they split two at Scotiabank Arena in the 2025 portion of the schedule.
The Leafs have won nine straight road games in the series, tied for their second-longest against another franchise with the record at 10 consecutive in Florida against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Toronto Maple Leafs
How much longer until the Leafs fire coach Craig Berube? All that optimism on a three-game winning streak entering the Olympic break is long gone at 0-4 out of it following a crushing 3-2 home shootout loss to the Flyers on Monday – Toronto hasn’t scored more than twice in any of the four-game skid. At least the team got a point thanks to William Nylander tying it at 2-2 at 17:30 of the third. It was Nylander’s seventh game-tying goal in the final five minutes of regulation career, fourth-most in franchise history. Auston Matthews leads with 12. It was also Nylander’s 20th goal of the season to reach that mark for the eighth time career and tie Frank Mahovlich for the sixth-most 20-goal seasons in team history. John Tavares had an assist to reach 50 points on the year. It’s the 16th career 50-point season for Tavares, fifth-most among all active players. Anthony Stolarz played well in that loss, but he likely goes Thursday at the New York Rangers and Joseph Woll starts in New Jersey. He is 0-2 since the break with eight goals allowed and pulled last time out vs. Ottawa. That said, Woll’s road GAA (2.89) is better than on home ice (3.21).
New Jersey Devils
It’s the second of a back-to-back for the Devils after an impressive 5-1 win at home vs. Florida on Tuesday. That’s two straight wins after a five-game skid that spanned the Olympic break. Against the Panthers, Team USA Olympic star Jack Hughes had two assists for his 112th career multi-point game to pass Aaron Broten for the seventh most in franchise history. Dougie Hamilton scored his 14th game-winning goal and surpassed Brian Rafalski for the third most by a defenseman in franchise history. Since Jacob Markstrom was in net for that, it should be Jake Allen tonight. He has personally lost four straight but was good in his first game post-break last Wednesday, allowing two goals in a tough-luck loss to Buffalo. Allen is 6-7-1 with a 2.70 GAA and .902 SV on home ice. The over is 6-2 in the Devils’ past eight vs. the Maple Leafs.
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