NHL Game Preview: New Jersey Devils (8-1-0) vs. Colorado Avalanche (5-1-4)

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Colorado Avalanche logo

Venue & Match Info

Arena: Ball Arena, 1000 Chopper Circle, Denver, CO

Capacity: ~18,000

Puckdrop: 9:00 PM ET

Broadcast: ESPN+, Altitude Sports, MSGSN2

Injury Report

New Jersey Devils:

Jacob Markstrom (G, lower body) – OUT

Evgenii Dadonov (RW, hand) – OUT

Cody Glass (C, upper body) – OUT

Brett Pesce (D, upper body) – Day-to-day

Zack MacEwen (RW, upper body) – OUT

Johnathan Kovacevic (D, knee) – OUT

Juho Lammikko (LW, undisclosed) – OUT

Colorado Avalanche:

Samuel Girard (D, upper body) – OUT

Joel Kiviranta (LW, lower body) – OUT

Logan O’Connor (RW, hip) – OUT

Mackenzie Blackwood (G, lower body) – OUT

Key Player Matchups

Devils:

Jack Hughes – 8 goals, 4 assists (12 pts) in 9 GP

Jesper Bratt – 11 pts (4G, 7A)

Dawson Mercer – +9 rating, 8 pts

Jake Allen (G) – 4-0-0, 1.72 GAA, .932 SV%

Avalanche:

Nathan MacKinnon – 14 pts (7G, 7A) in 10 GP

Cale Makar – 11 pts (3G, 8A)

Artturi Lehkonen – 11 pts (4G, 7A)

Scott Wedgewood (G) – 5-1-2, 2.42 GAA, .904 SV%

Matchup Focus: Hughes vs. MacKinnon – two of the league’s most dynamic centers. Devils’ elite PP (30.8%) vs. Avs’ struggling PP (10.3%).

Team Recent Form

New Jersey Devils:

Last 5: W vs. SJ 3-1, W vs. MIN 4-1, W @ TOR 5-2, W vs. EDM 5-3, W vs. FLA 3-1

Strengths: 3.9 GF/G (3rd NHL), 2.3 GA/G (5th), PP 30.8% (3rd), PK 93.1% (2nd).

Colorado Avalanche:

Last 5: L @ BOS 3-2, L vs. CAR 5-4 (SO), L @ UTA 4-3 (OT), W vs. BOS 4-1, W @ CBJ 4-1

Strengths: 3.3 GF/G (11th), 2.2 GA/G (1st), PK 88.9% (6th).

Weakness: PP just 10.3% (30th).

Series History

Devils beat Avalanche 4-3 (OT) on Oct. 26, 2025.

Colorado is 11-2 SU in last 13 home games vs. New Jersey.

Totals: OVER in 5 of last 6 meetings.

Betting Trends

Devils: 8-0 SU last 8 overall; 6-0 SU vs. Western Conference; OVER in 4 of last 5 road games.

Avalanche: 11-2 SU last 13 home vs. Devils; UNDER in 9 of last 12 home games.

Totals: Both teams combine for 7.2 goals/game, above the 6.0 line.

Game Odds

New Jersey Devils                            6.5

Colorado Avalanche                       – 162

Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Monday, October 27, 2025