New Jersey Devils vs Tampa Bay Lightning Betting Preview

New Jersey returns to Florida without Jack Hughes after a freak glass-related injury that required surgery. The 24-year-old center will miss six to eight weeks, stripping the Devils of their top creator. Their 3-2 shootout win in Washington showed resilience, but the lineup shifts again.

Connor Brown and Dougie Hamilton are back practicing, which helps stabilize the group. Jesper Bratt leads the club with 12 assists, and Luke Hughes continues to progress with strong puck-moving play.

Tampa Bay comes off a 6-2 collapse against Vancouver in a game they controlled early. The Lightning dominated the first period with a 13-1 shot advantage but unraveled in the third. Jon Cooper pointed to complacency and a failure to complete a full 60-minute effort. With forwards returning, Tampa reassigned Jakob Pelletier and Boris Katchouk to Syracuse.

This is the second meeting of the season. New Jersey won the first matchup 5-3.

Line Movement and Odds

Opening moneyline: Tampa Bay −130, New Jersey +110. Market now leans heavier to Tampa Bay with the Devils missing Hughes. Total sits at 6.5 after opening at 6.

Current projection from market consensus:

• Tampa Bay ML: Around −140
• New Jersey ML: Around +120
• Total: 6.5 with early sharp action toward the Over

Track live changes and pricing on the NHL odds page.

Sharp money favors Tampa Bay on the ML and first-period markets. Public bettors lean slightly toward the Devils’ plus price.

Matchup Breakdown

New Jersey Outlook

The Devils’ five-on-five possession remains strong, but losing Hughes reduces transition speed and affects their controlled-entry rate. Cody Glass remains week-to-week, and Zack MacEwen stays on IR. New Jersey will need depth scoring from Bratt, Dawson Mercer and Luke Hughes to keep pace. Their road play has been competitive, and their defensive structure improved over the last five games.

Tampa Bay Outlook

Tampa’s offense still flashes elite spurts. Nikita Kucherov and Jake Guentzel both sit at eight goals and remain matchup drivers. Their breakdown against Vancouver was mental more than tactical. The Lightning should generate heavy volume again at home. Special teams remain concerning. Their PP went 0-for-2 against the league’s worst PK and has been streaky.

Key Battleground

New Jersey’s defensive discipline versus Tampa Bay’s forecheck. The Devils cannot afford the penalty issues that burned them last week. Tampa thrives when they pin teams deep and force turnovers. Without Hughes, New Jersey must avoid long defensive shifts.

Injuries and Conditions

New Jersey Devils

• Jack Hughes (C) — Out, laceration surgery
• Cody Glass (C) — Out, upper body
• Zack MacEwen (F) — Out, IR
• Dougie Hamilton (D) — Practicing
• Connor Brown (F) — Practicing

Full details on the New Jersey Devils injury report

Tampa Bay Lightning

• Several forwards recently returned
• No new major long-term absences reported

See the Tampa Bay Lightning injury report

Best Bets and Prediction

ATS Trends

• Devils trending Under in four of last six
• Lightning inconsistent but strong early at home
• Devils won previous meeting 5-3

Projected Score: Lightning 4, Devils 2

Best Bet: Tampa Bay moneyline
New Jersey’s offensive downgrade without Hughes is significant, especially against a high-tempo Tampa side.

Secondary Lean: Over 6.5
Tampa Bay’s defensive volatility plus their shot volume points to scoring opportunities either way.

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