Puck drop 9:00 p.m. ET (7:00 p.m. MDT)
Venue: Ball Arena, Denver, Colorado
TV: ESPN+ (national); Altitude/Altitude+ (Colorado); MSG Sportsnet (New Jersey)
This is the second and final regular-season meeting of the year. The Devils won the first matchup 4-3 on October 20 in New Jersey. Colorado returns home to begin a short homestand after a road loss, while New Jersey plays the second half of a back-to-back following a strong road win.
Current Rosters & Projected Lineups
Devils key active players (approximate recent combinations):
Top contributors include Jack Hughes (leading scorer), Nico Hischier, Jesper Bratt, Arseny Gritsyuk, Luke Evangelista, Timo Meier, and Dougie Hamilton/Luke Hughes on the blue line. Expected top-six involvement features skill and transition play, with strong faceoff and defensive structure. Goalies: Jake Allen (confirmed/probable starter, majority of recent starts). Depth includes options like Remi Poirier.
Avalanche key active players (approximate recent combinations):
Nathan MacKinnon (top scorer, high points pace), Artturi Lehkonen (hot goal-scoring), Martin Necas, Cale Makar, Devon Toews, Brock Nelson, Nazem Kadri, and Gabriel Landeskog. Lines typically center around MacKinnon’s unit with Lehkonen and Necas, plus strong defensive pairings featuring Makar and Toews. Goalies: Mackenzie Blackwood (expected/probable starter based on recent usage); Scott Wedgewood as the primary alternative.
Both teams feature high-end skill. Colorado’s offense ranks among the league’s more productive groups, while New Jersey emphasizes speed, structure, and secondary scoring.
Injury Reports
Devils:
Seamus Casey (D) – Out (knee; IR, longer-term absence expected into November).
Connor Hellebuyck (G) – Day-to-day (not injury related; notes indicate intent to play on the road trip, but Allen is projected to start this game).
Avalanche:
Zachary L’Heureux (LW/F) – Out (upper body; IR/LTIR status, expected return around early November).
Limited additional absences reported; the core remains largely intact. edgehalla.com
New Jersey is missing some defensive depth, while Colorado’s forward group is only lightly affected.
Key Player vs. Player Matchups
Nathan MacKinnon / Artturi Lehkonen / Martin Necas (Avalanche) vs. Devils defense and centers (Hischier, Hughes): Colorado’s top unit generates high-danger chances and transition offense.
MacKinnon’s playmaking and Lehkonen’s finishing (among league leaders in goals) will test New Jersey’s structure and gap control. The Devils must limit zone time and win puck battles.
Jack Hughes / Nico Hischier / Jesper Bratt / Arseny Gritsyuk (Devils) vs. Avalanche defense (Cale Makar, Devon Toews): New Jersey’s speed and skill create odd-man rushes and sustained pressure. Hughes’ creativity and Hischier’s two-way game (recent multi-goal performance) will challenge Colorado’s blue line, which is elite but can be stretched in high-event games.
Special teams and goaltending: Both clubs have middling-to-average power-play and penalty-kill numbers early. Faceoffs and neutral-zone play will matter. Allen’s recent form against high-powered teams versus Blackwood’s home workload is a key subplot. Colorado’s home ice and altitude can factor into late-game energy.
Recent Team Forms
Devils (strong recent stretch): 8-4-0 overall. They defeated Dallas 5-1 on the road (Nico Hischier two goals) and previously beat Colorado 4-3. Solid defensive metrics in recent games (low goals against), consistent scoring when generating three-plus goals, and good possession metrics. Road record is more modest, but current form is one of the better ones in the East.
Avalanche (mixed, strong at home): 6-5-1 overall, 4-1-1 at home. High-octane offense (strong goals-for average) led by MacKinnon, Lehkonen, and Necas, but recent results include a 6-2 road loss at Nashville. Capable of explosive scoring nights; defensive consistency has been a work in progress. Strong when opponents take more penalties.
Series History
The teams met once earlier this season (Devils 4-3 win on Oct. 20). All-time regular-season edge favors Colorado (approximately 25-19-3-2 in prior meetings). They met in the 2001 Stanley Cup Final (Colorado won in seven). Games tend to be competitive and relatively high-event given both clubs’ styles.
Betting Trends
Home favorites are common for Colorado given their talent and Ball Arena advantage. New Jersey’s recent form and prior win over the Avs create some underdog interest. Totals often hover around 6–6.5 in these matchups due to skill on both sides.dknetwork.draftkings.com
Game Odds
New Jersey Devils 6.5
Colorado Avalanche – 142
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Tuesday, October 27, 2026
