Puck drop: 6:00 p.m. ET (3:00 p.m. PT)
Venue: T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas / Paradise, NV
TV: NHL Network, MSGSN, Scripps, Sportsnet+
This early-season interconference matchup features two strong teams. The Devils close a three-game road trip, while the Golden Knights host on Nevada Day with an early afternoon start local time.
Current Player Rosters (key projected/active)
Devils (projected lines):
Forwards: Arseny Gritsyuk – Jack Hughes – Jesper Bratt; Timo Meier – Nico Hischier – Luke Evangelista; Anthony Mantha – Evan Rodrigues – Jesper Boqvist; Amadeus Lombardi – Cody Glass – Connor Brown.
Defense: Luke Hughes – Brett Pesce; Jonas Siegenthaler – Dougie Hamilton; Brenden Dillon – Declan Chisholm.
Goalies: Connor Hellebuyck (likely) / Jake Allen.
Scratches typically include Johnathan Kovacevic.
Golden Knights (projected lines):
Forwards: Ivan Barbashev – Jack Eichel – Mark Stone; Brett Howden – William Karlsson – Mitch Marner; Trevor Connelly – Tomas Hertl – Braeden Bowman; Raphael Lavoie – Nic Dowd – Marc Gatcomb.
Defense: Shea Theodore – Brayden McNabb; Ville Heinola – Rasmus Andersson; Jeremy Lauzon – Noah Hanifin.
Goalies: Adin Hill (likely) / Cameron Whitehead (Carter Hart status pending).
Scratches include Dylan Coghlan.
Listed Injury Reports
Devils:
Seamus Casey (knee) – IR / Out (longer-term).
Minimal other absences reported for Friday; roster largely healthy.
Golden Knights:
Carter Hart (undisclosed) – Day-to-Day / Questionable (injured in recent morning skate; status unclear).
Victor Olofsson (lower body / undisclosed) – Out.
Parker Wotherspoon (upper body) – IR / Out.
Additional depth players may be sidelined.
Confirm final goalie starts and lineups closer to puck drop, as Hellebuyck is newly acquired and Hart’s availability remains fluid.
Recent Team Forms
Devils (8-5-0): Strong recent stretch (7-3-0 in last 10). Wins include 5-1 at Dallas (Hellebuyck’s debut) and several home victories; most recent a 5-2 loss at Colorado. Averaging 3.31 GF/GP and 2.92 GA/GP. Jack Hughes leads in points; Nico Hischier paces goals. Solid on the road lately after splitting the first two games of the trip.
Golden Knights (9-4-1): 6-3-1 in last 10, including a 4-1 home win over Ottawa. Home record strong (6-2-0). Averaging 3.57 GF/GP and 2.79 GA/GP. Jack Eichel (points leader) and Mark Stone (goals) driving offense; power play efficient (25.6%). Consistent Western contenders with home-ice edge.
Jack Hughes / Nico Hischier / Jesper Bratt vs. Jack Eichel / Mark Stone / Mitch Marner: Elite skill matchup. Hughes’ speed and playmaking against Eichel’s two-way excellence and Stone’s finishing; Bratt’s creativity vs. Marner’s vision.
Luke Hughes / Dougie Hamilton / Brett Pesce vs. Shea Theodore / Brayden McNabb / Noah Hanifin: Mobile, offensive defensemen. Luke Hughes’ transition game vs. Theodore’s rush ability and McNabb’s shutdown presence.
Timo Meier / Arseny Gritsyuk / Luke Evangelista vs. Tomas Hertl / Ivan Barbashev / William Karlsson: Secondary scoring and physicality. Meier’s net-front presence against Hertl’s size and Karlsson’s two-way reliability.
Goalie battle: Hellebuyck (elite pedigree, strong debut) vs. Hill (or Hart if available) — potential high-save game.
Vegas holds home and special-teams edges; New Jersey counters with high-end skill and recent momentum.
Series History
First meeting of the 2026-27 season (season series tied 0-0). The teams split or competed closely in prior seasons; limited recent head-to-head dominance noted, with the next matchup scheduled for March 5 in New Jersey. Interconference games often feature competitive, structured play.
Betting Trends
Vegas favored due to home ice, better overall record, and power-play efficiency. Public leans toward the home side; totals often hover near even given both teams’ offensive capability balanced by solid goaltending. Road underdogs like the Devils can offer value in competitive matchups.
Projection sketch: Golden Knights win 3-2 or 4-2 in regulation/OT. Vegas controls via home energy and top-line production; New Jersey stays competitive through skill and goaltending. Monitor final injury reports (especially Hart) and confirmed starters closely.
Game Odds
New Jersey Devils 6
Vegas Golden Knights – 116
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Thursday, October 29, 2026
