Blues vs Devils Betting Preview
New Jersey owns the NHL’s best home environment. The Devils are 8-0-1 at Prudential Center and can tie a franchise record with another point. They beat Detroit 4-3 Monday behind Jacob Markstrom’s best outing in weeks. He stopped 32 shots and settled a team that had dropped three straight on the road.
New Jersey needed the reset. Their structure tightened. Their forecheck produced turnovers. They attacked early with a three-goal first period. Cody Glass returned and scored. Their bench had more pace and fewer gaps between forwards and defense.
St. Louis finishes a five-game Eastern swing. The Blues are 1-1-2 so far and still searching for consistent offense. They scored nine goals across their last five games. Coach Jim Montgomery keeps rotating his lines but the execution has been flat. They had a four-minute power play late in Monday’s game at New York and failed to convert. They scored at 6-on-5 after pulling Joel Hofer but could not find the equalizer.
Jordan Binnington is expected to start. He is 2-0-2 in his last four with a .916 save percentage. His workload has been heavy because the Blues have not produced enough zone time or clean entries. Their defensive support has dipped in spurts. Their biggest issue is sustaining pressure for full shifts.
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Line Movement and Odds
- Devils -146, Blues +123
- Total: 5.5 (over -111, under -110)
The market opened near Devils -140 and moved slightly higher. Bettors respect their home streak and Markstrom’s form. The total sits at 5.5 with even action both ways. The Blues’ recent scoring drought anchors the number.
Check updates on the NHL odds page
Matchup Breakdown
St. Louis overview
The Blues play a heavy style but have not generated enough possession. Their power play ranks 8th with 13 goals. Their physical edge shows with 537 hits. Justin Faulk and Jordan Kyrou share the team lead with 13 points. Their issue is timing. They pass up looks on the power play. They struggle to start periods with tempo. Their entries have been predictable.
For the Blues to win, they need pressure below the dots, more touches for Kyrou through the middle and better patience in the offensive zone.
New Jersey overview
The Devils found rhythm again. Timo Meier and Nico Hischier both produced a goal and assist Monday. Their forecheck won pucks. Their transition game created rush chances. They sit second in the conference and have scored 67 goals, ranking 11th. Their power play sits 8th and their pace at home forces mistakes.
Markstrom anchors the unit. His rebound control improved. Their defensive zone spacing tightened. Their home schedule helped restore confidence.
Key battle
Blues’ cycle game versus Devils’ speed. If New Jersey exits cleanly, they will control pace and zone time.
Injuries
Blues
- Zach Dean, out, personal.
- Torey Krug, out, ankle.
Full list on the St. Louis Blues page - .
Devils
- Evgenii Dadonov, doubtful, undisclosed.
- Jack Hughes, out, hand.
- Johnathan Kovacevic, out, knee.
- Zack MacEwen, out, lower body.
- Marc McLaughlin, out, undisclosed.
- Brett Pesce, out, upper body.
Full details on the New Jersey Devils page - .
Betting Trends
- Blues 7-3 ATS as underdogs.
- Devils 5-3 straight up as favorites.
- Blues 0-5 on totals in last five.
- Devils 8-8 ATS overall.
- Blues 3-2 straight up in last five.
- Devils 2-1 to the over in last three.
Best Bets and Prediction
New Jersey holds the edge in speed, structure and goaltending. Their home play is reliable. St. Louis’ scoring slump and lack of execution on late-game chances remain concerns.
Projected score: Devils 3, Blues 2.
Best Bet: Devils -146.
Total Lean: Under 5.5.
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