The Dallas Stars (17-5-5, 39 points) roll into Newark on the second leg of a back-to-back road trip, looking to shake off an overtime heartbreaker against the New York Rangers and extend their status as one of the Western Conference’s elite squads. Facing them are the New Jersey Devils (16-9-1, 33 points), who are desperate to rebound from a frustrating home loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets and solidify their grip on a Metropolitan Division wild-card spot. This interconference clash pits two high-octane offenses against stingy defenses, with the Stars’ road prowess clashing against the Devils’ home-ice edge. Puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m. ET at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey—a 19,500-seat fortress where the Devils have been nearly unbeatable in recent action. Broadcast options include ESPN+ for national streaming, Victory+ and MSG Sportsnet for regional coverage, and SiriusXM NHL Radio for audio.
Both teams enter with momentum tempered by recent hiccups: Dallas has won seven of their last 10 but dropped a point in OT last night, while New Jersey has claimed points in four of their last five but blew a multi-goal lead against Columbus on Monday. Expect a fast-paced, physical affair with power-play opportunities abound, as the Stars boast the league’s top unit (32.6% efficiency) and the Devils rank among the elite in goals per game (3.12). Here’s a deep dive into the key angles.
Team Records and Standings Snapshot
| Team | Record (W-L-OTL) | Points | GF/GP | GA/GP | Home/Away Split | Power Play % | Penalty Kill % |
| Dallas Stars | 17-5-5 | 39 | 3.50 | 2.65 | 10-2-2 Home / 7-3-3 Away | 32.6 (1st) | 79.3 (17th) |
| New Jersey Devils | 16-9-1 | 33 | 3.12 | 3.04 | 9-3-1 Home / 7-6-0 Away | 25.0 (8th) | 81.0 (10th) |
The Stars sit second in the Central Division, trailing only the scorching Colorado Avalanche, while the Devils hold fourth in the Metropolitan, two points clear of the pack but vulnerable with injuries mounting. Dallas’s elite goal differential (+23) underscores their balance, but New Jersey’s home dominance (9-3-1, 2.89 GA/GP at Prudential) could force a grinder.
Recent Team Forms
Both squads have been playoff-caliber hot over the past month, but defensive lapses and injuries have introduced volatility. Dallas is 7-1-2 in their last 10, outscoring foes 38-22, but fatigue from a compressed schedule (third game in four nights) looms large. New Jersey is 6-3-1 in their last 10, with a +14 goal differential, but they’ve surrendered 18 goals in their last five—exposing cracks without key defenders.
Dallas Stars Last 5 Games:
| Date | Opponent | Result | Key Notes |
| Dec 2 | @ NYR | L 3-2 (OT) | Casey DeSmith stellar in relief (35 saves), but OT deflection sinks Stars; Tyler Seguin exits early with lower-body issue. |
| Nov 30 | vs OTT | W 6-1 | Wyatt Johnston hat trick; Jason Robertson, Mikko Rantanen each tally 3 points in rout. |
| Nov 28 | vs UTA | W 4-3 | Late comeback; power play goes 2-for-3. |
| Nov 26 | @ SEA | W 3-2 | Vladislav Kolyachonok game-winner; Jake Oettinger stonewalls late rally. |
| Nov 25 | @ EDM | W 8-3 | Offensive explosion; Rantanen 2G-2A. |
New Jersey
Devils Last 5 Games:
| Date | Opponent | Result | Key Notes |
| Dec 2 | vs CBJ | L 5-3 | Blow 2-1 lead; Brenden Dillon exits after ugly scrum, multiple fights ensue (74 PIM total). |
| Nov 29 | vs PHI | L 5-3 | Defensive meltdown; Jesper Bratt 2A, but penalties doom PK. |
| Nov 28 | @ BUF | W 5-0 | Jacob Markstrom shutout; Nico Hischier snaps 3-game pointless streak. |
| Nov 26 | vs STL | W 3-2 (OT) | Timo Meier OT heroics; resilient bounce-back. |
| Nov 24 | vs DET | W 4-3 | Hischier, Meier each 1G-1A; extend home points streak to 9. |
Trend: Stars are 4-1 in their last five road games but 1-2-2 in back-to-backs. Devils are 4-1 at home in November/December but 1-2 vs. Central Division foes.
Injury Report
Injuries are hitting both blue lines hard, potentially tilting this toward a shootout-style affair. Dallas is without three top-six defensemen, thinning their depth, while New Jersey’s absence of Jack Hughes has forced a committee approach up front.
Dallas Stars Injuries:
| Player | Position | Status | Injury Details | Est. Return |
| Lian Bichsel | D | Out (IR) | Lower body (surgery) | Feb 2, 2026 |
| Thomas Harley | D | Out (IR-LT) | Lower body | Dec 7 |
| Adam Erne | LW | Out (IR-LT) | Lower body | Dec 7 |
| Matt Duchene | C | Out | Upper body | TBD |
| Tyler Seguin | C | Day-to-Day | Lower body (questionable after exiting vs. NYR) | Dec 3? |
Impact: Blue-line youth like Nils Lundkvist and Kolyachonok step up, but Seguin’s status is pivotal—his line drives 25% of Dallas’s even-strength goals.
New Jersey Devils Injuries:
| Player | Position | Status | Injury Details | Est. Return |
| Brenden Dillon | D | Day-to-Day | Undisclosed (precaution after head hit vs. CBJ) | Dec 3? |
| Evgenii Dadonov | RW | Out | Undisclosed | Dec 17 |
| Zack MacEwen | RW | Out (IR) | Lower body | Dec 6? |
| Johnathan Kovacevic | D | Out | Undisclosed | TBD |
| Jack Hughes | C | Out (IR) | Finger | Dec 21 |
| Brett Pesce | D | Out (IR) | Upper body | Dec 21 |
| Marc McLaughlin | C | Out | Undisclosed | TBD |
Impact: Hughes’s absence (team-high 24 points pre-injury) has dropped production by 0.8 goals/game; Dillon’s potential return stabilizes the top pair with Dougie Hamilton.
Key Player Matchups
This game’s pulse will beat through the top lines, where skill meets grit. Dallas’s stars thrive on transition, while New Jersey counters with forecheck pressure.
Jason Robertson (DAL, LW) vs. Jesper Bratt (NJD, LW): Robertson (16G-19A, 35 points) is Dallas’s sniper-in-chief, converting 15% of his 110 shots. Bratt (team-high 26 points) mirrors him with elite edge work but faces Robertson’s line on the PK. Edge: Robertson—his road scoring (12G in 13 away games) exploits tired defenses.
Mikko Rantanen (DAL, RW) vs. Nico Hischier (NJD, C): Rantanen (11G-23A) quarterbacks the NHL’s best PP, with a four-game point streak vs. NJD (6 points). Hischier (10G-14A, +12) is Mr. Clutch, winning 52.8% of faceoffs and leading all Devils in shorthanded goals (2). Edge: Hischier—his two-way game neutralizes Rantanen’s flair at even strength.
Wyatt Johnston (DAL, C) vs. Timo Meier (NJD, RW): Johnston (16G-15A) rides a five-game heater vs. NJD (8 points) and owns the net-front presence. Meier (10G-12A, 30 PIM) brings physicality (8 hits/game) but has cooled (1G in last 5). Edge: Johnston—his speed disrupts Meier’s grind.
Goalie Duel: Jake Oettinger (DAL) vs. Jacob Markstrom (NJD): Oettinger (15-4-3, .915 SV%, 2.45 GAA) is 6-1-1 in his last eight starts but faces back-to-back wear. Markstrom (10-6-1, .890 SV%, 3.12 GAA) has struggled lately (4.50 GAA last 3) but owns a 3-1-0 record vs. Dallas. Edge: Oettinger—if rested; otherwise, exploitable.
Watch For: Stars’ PP (29 opportunities converted) vs. Devils’ PK (81.0%, 10th); New Jersey’s forecheck could force 15+ turnovers from Dallas’s depleted D.
Series History
The Stars hold a slight all-time edge in this lopsided rivalry, with 65 wins to New Jersey’s 52 across 126 meetings (regular season + playoffs; Stars 63-48-9 in reggies). Dallas has owned recent tilts, winning four of the last six (including a 4-3 thriller on March 4, 2025, and 5-4 on Feb. 22, 2025). At Prudential, it’s tighter: Devils 22-29-6 vs. Stars. Iconic note: New Jersey swept the 2000 Stanley Cup Final over Dallas (4-2), but the Stars avenged it with a 2003 conference semis upset (4-2). Average goals: 5.98 per game—lean over.
| Last 6 Meetings | Date | Result | Venue |
| Mar 4, 2025 | DAL 4-3 NJD | American Airlines Center | Stars win |
| Feb 22, 2025 | DAL 5-4 NJD | Prudential Center | Stars win |
| Mar 14, 2024 | DAL 6-2 NJD | American Airlines Center | Stars win |
| Jan 20, 2024 | NJD 7-6 DAL | Prudential Center | Devils win |
| Jan 27, 2023 | NJD 4-3 DAL | Prudential Center | Devils win |
| Dec 13, 2022 | DAL 3-2 NJD | American Airlines Center | Stars win |
Trend: Last five games hit over 5.5 goals (avg. 6.4); Stars 3-2 SU on road vs. NJD since 2020.
Betting Trends
New Jersey opens as a slim home favorite (-114 ML), reflecting their 9-3-1 Prudential mark and Dallas’s back-to-back spot (Stars 4-4-2 in B2Bs). Total at 5.5 (O -134) screams offense, with 14 of Dallas’s 27 games and 12 of NJD’s 26 clearing it. Puck line: Devils -1.5 (+210) for value, but Stars +1.5 (-250) cashes in 80% of road games.
Key Trends:
Stars 12-5 SU as road dogs; 8-3 when scoring 3+ goals away.
Devils 10-5 SU as favorites but 2-3 in last five home games vs. West.
Over 7-3 in last 10 Devils home games; Stars 6-2-2 O/U last 10 overall.
Game Odds
Dallas Stars 5.5
New Jersey Devils – 115
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Tuesday, December 2, 2025
