The Vancouver Canucks (11-17-3) travel east to face the New Jersey Devils (18-13-1) in a cross-conference matchup where the Devils aim to capitalize on home ice and Vancouver’s injury-plagued roster during a grueling road trip. New Jersey, fresh off a bounce-back win over Anaheim, seeks to extend a mini-resurgence against a Canucks squad mired in a slump and reeling from the placement of star forward Elias Pettersson on injured reserve. With both teams leaning on goaltending duels—Thatcher Demko vs. Jacob Markstrom—this Sunday matinee could hinge on special teams and forechecking intensity, potentially favoring the Devils’ structured play. Faceoff is set for 12:30 p.m. ET from Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. The 16,514-seat arena, opened in 2007 and known for its electric atmosphere, has been a stronghold for New Jersey this season (10-6-0 home), where they’ve posted a league-best 2.45 GAA at home.
Broadcast options include NHL Network (national), Sportsnet Pacific (for Canucks fans), and MSG Networks, with streaming available on ESPN+ and NHL Network streaming.
Team Records and Standings
| Team | Overall Record | Home/Away Split | Conference/Division Rank | PK% / PP% |
| Vancouver Canucks | 11-17-3 | 7-8-2 Home / 4-9-1 Away | 8th Pacific (25 pts) | 76.2% / 18.4% |
| New Jersey Devils | 18-13-1 | 10-6-0 Home / 8-7-1 Away | 5th Metropolitan (37 pts) | 82.1% / 22.3% |
Vancouver sits near the Pacific basement, outscored by 0.8 goals per game overall. New Jersey holds a wild-card spot in the East, buoyed by elite special teams but tested by recent defensive lapses.
Recent Team Forms
The Canucks enter on a sour note, dropping four of their last five amid scoring droughts (2.0 GPG last 3). New Jersey’s mixed bag includes a blowout loss but shows promise in transition (14.2 fast-break goals/60 min). Both teams rank bottom-10 in 5v5 expected goals against.
Vancouver Canucks Last 5 Games:
| Date | Opponent | Result | Key Stats (Canucks) |
| Dec. 11 | vs. BUF | L 2-3 | 28 SOG, 0/3 PP, 12 PIM |
| Dec. 9 | vs. DET | L 0-4 | 29 SOG, 0/2 PP, 2.45 xGA |
| Dec. 6 | vs. MIN | W 4-2 | 32 SOG, 1/4 PP, 3.12 xGF |
| Dec. 5 | vs. UTA | L 1-4 | 33 SOG, 0/3 PP, 8 PIM |
| Dec. 2 | @ COL | L 1-3 | 21 SOG, 0/2 PP, 14 PIM |
Form Summary: 1-4-0. Averaging 1.6 GPG while allowing 3.2 GPG. Power play inefficiency (12.5% last 5) and road woes (0-3-0 away) compound issues; Demko’s .915 SV% stabilizes but can’t mask forecheck deficits.
New Jersey Devils Last 5 Games:
| Date | Opponent | Result | Key Stats (Devils) |
| Dec. 13 | vs. ANA | W 4-1 | 22 SOG, 2/3 PP, 2.18 xGA |
| Dec. 11 | vs. TBL | L 4-8 | 37 SOG, 1/4 PP, 4.56 xGA |
| Dec. 9 | @ OTT | W 4-3 | 32 SOG, 1/2 PP, 3.45 xGF |
| Dec. 6 | @ BOS | L 1-4 | 30 SOG, 0/3 PP, 1.92 xGA |
| Dec. 5 | vs. VGK | L 0-3 | 24 SOG, 0/2 PP, 8 PIM |
Form Summary: 2-3-0. Averaging 2.6 GPG but yielding 3.8 GPG. Strong home PK (88.9% last 3) shines, but turnovers (12.4/game) fuel transitions; Markstrom’s .905 SV% in wins masks inconsistencies.
Injury Report
Injuries hit Vancouver hard up front, thinning scoring depth without Pettersson, while New Jersey’s blue line takes a hit with Nemec out. Rossi’s activation provides a boost for the Canucks.
Vancouver Canucks Injuries:
| Player | Status | Injury Details |
| Elias Pettersson | Out (IR) | Lower Body (retro to Dec. 5) |
| Nils Hoglander | Day-to-Day | Undisclosed |
| Marco Rossi | Available | Activated from IR (Lower Body) |
New Jersey Devils Injuries:
| Player | Status | Injury Details |
| Simon Nemec | Out | Undisclosed (Practice) |
| Timo Meier | Out | Personal |
| Johnathan Kovacevic | Out | Knee |
| Evgenii Dadonov | Out (IR) | Undisclosed |
| Arseni Gritsyuk | Out | Upper Body |
Pettersson’s absence (0.92 pts/game pre-injury) drops Vancouver’s top-line production; Meier out (0.78 pts/game) tests New Jersey’s wing depth, but Hischier’s line holds.
Key Player Matchups
With Pettersson sidelined, Vancouver’s second line faces New Jersey’s shutdown unit. Devils’ speed on the rush exploits Canucks’ tired legs post-road trip.
Nico Hischier (NJD, 0.85 pts/game) vs. Jake DeBrusk (VAN, 0.62 pts/game): Hischier’s faceoff wins (55.2%) and two-way play (1.2 BKS/game) neutralize DeBrusk’s net-front presence; DeBrusk (12 G) thrives on tips but struggles vs. elite centers. Edge: Hischier—expect multi-point night, over 0.5 pts prop.
Brock Boeser (VAN, 0.71 pts/game) vs. Dougie Hamilton (NJD, 0.48 pts/game): Boeser’s shot volume (3.1 SOG/game) tests Hamilton’s QB vision (18 A); Hamilton’s point shot (1.4/game) pulls Boeser out of position. Edge: Hamilton—PK specialist, limits Boeser to under 2.5 SOG.
Jesper Bratt (NJD, 0.92 pts/game) vs. Filip Hronek (VAN, 0.42 pts/game): Bratt’s edge work (14 A on rush) overwhelms Hronek’s positioning; Hronek (12 A) distributes well but gaps vs. speed. Edge: Bratt—prop over 0.5 pts, exploits transitions.
Thatcher Demko (VAN, .915 SV%) vs. Jacob Markstrom (NJD, .905 SV%): Ex-teammates clash; Demko’s rebound control (0.92/60) vs. Markstrom’s glove (.78 SV% on high-danger). Edge: Demko—slight, but road fatigue factors.
Bonus Watch: Marco Rossi’s debut centers Boeser—watch for chemistry in limited minutes.
Series History
All-time, Vancouver holds a slim edge (60-47-17), but New Jersey dominates lately, winning 7 of the last 10 with superior goaltending (.925 SV% combined). Recent tilts trend low-scoring (U 4/5), favoring Devils’ structure.
Last 5 Head-to-Head Meetings:
| Date | Result | Key Notes |
| Oct. 19, 2019 | NJD 1-0 VAN | Hughes shutout; 22 SOG for VAN |
| Nov. 10, 2019 | NJD 3-1 VAN | Hischier GWG; U 4.5 |
| Dec. 6, 2023 | VAN 6-0 NJD | Boeser hat trick; rare VAN blowout |
| Mar. 3, 2024 | NJD 4-2 VAN | Markstrom .882 SV%; Devils rally |
| Oct. 25, 2024 | NJD 3-2 VAN OT | Bratt OT winner; 1-goal game |
Trend: Devils 4-1 SU, averaging 2.4 GPG. New Jersey 5-0 ATS as favorites; unders in 4/5 at Prudential.
Betting Trends
Puck Line: New Jersey 6-4 ATS as home favorites; Vancouver 4-6 ATS as road dogs.
Totals: Devils games hit Under in 55% (11/20 home); Canucks Over in 48% (9/19), but series favors Under.
Game Odds
Vancouver Canucks 5.5
New Jersey Devils – 120
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Saturday, December 13, 2025
