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The New Jersey Devils visit the New York Islanders at UBS Arena on Tuesday, December 23, 2025, with puck drop set for 7:00 PM on ESPN+. New Jersey comes in 20-15-1 in the Eastern Metropolitan Division, while the Islanders are 19-14-4 and trying to protect their position in the standings heading into the holiday break.
This matchup is a classic pre-break spot where lineup news matters more than usual. New Jersey is finally closer to full strength with key pieces back in the mix, while the Islanders are short-handed again, including a confirmed absence in goal. With the Devils priced at -123 on the moneyline, bettors have to decide if the healthier roster and offensive ceiling outweigh a road game against a team that typically plays a heavier, lower-event style at home.
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New Jersey Devils vs New York Islanders Odds
These are the current betting lines for Tuesday night, and bettors should always monitor updated NHL odds as prices can move quickly leading into puck drop. Track movement and market updates with the latest NHL odds.
| Team | Moneyline | Puck Line | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Jersey Devils | -123 | Not listed | 6.0 |
| New York Islanders | +104 | Not listed | 6.0 |
New Jersey Devils Betting Form
New Jersey’s biggest story is availability and what it does to the top six. Getting Jack Hughes back changes the pace, the transition game, and the power-play threat immediately, and the Devils need that because they have been treading water during his absence. They still generate shot volume and create chances, but the finishing and offensive flow have been inconsistent, especially in tighter games where one or two plays decide it.
From a betting angle, this is a spot where the Devils can justify being a road favorite because their skill edge is real when the lineup is intact. The cleaner question is whether they are sharp enough defensively to avoid letting a short-handed Islanders team hang around and drag the game into a one-goal grind. For a quick snapshot of how the Devils have been producing this season, their New Jersey Devils stats and results are the best reference point. Availability still matters for the bottom of the lineup and defensive pairings, so monitor the New Jersey Devils injury report before puck drop.
| Player | Status | Injury |
|---|---|---|
| Evgenii Dadonov (RW) | Out | Wrist |
| Johnathan Kovacevic (D) | Out | Knee |
| Zack MacEwen (C) | Out | Lower Body |
| Marc McLaughlin (C) | Out | Undisclosed |
| Simon Nemec (D) | Out | Lower Body |
New York Islanders Betting Form
The Islanders are in a tougher position because the roster is thin in the exact areas that drive scoring depth and defensive stability. Bo Horvat is not expected to go, Kyle Palmieri and Alexander Romanov are out long term, and Ilya Sorokin is inactive, which is a big deal for how you handicap both the side and the total. The Islanders can still play their home style, but the margin shrinks when they have to win without their primary scoring center and without their top goalie.
That said, the Islanders are still capable of making this uncomfortable for New Jersey if they keep the game structured, win board battles, and make the Devils earn everything in the offensive zone. If the Devils get impatient, the Islanders can steal goals off broken plays and extend the game. For a snapshot of their home splits and recent results, check the New York Islanders schedule and stats. Availability is the key handicap factor here, so monitor the New York Islanders injury report before puck drop.
| Player | Status | Injury |
|---|---|---|
| Ethan Bear (D) | Out | Undisclosed |
| Pierre Engvall (LW) | Out | Ankle |
| Bo Horvat (C) | Out | Lower Body |
| Kyle Palmieri (C) | Out | Knee |
| Alexander Romanov (D) | Out | Shoulder |
| Ilya Sorokin (G) | Out | Undisclosed |
| Semyon Varlamov (G) | Out | Lower Body |
New Jersey Devils vs New York Islanders Matchup Breakdown
This matchup comes down to whether New Jersey can turn its speed advantage into clean five-on-five offense without giving the Islanders life on counter chances. With Hughes back, the Devils should be able to play faster through the neutral zone and generate more controlled entries. That is the path to winning as a road favorite because it keeps the puck away from an Islanders team that wants to slow the game down and live in the trenches.
Special teams and goaltending are the two swing factors. The Islanders being short in net is a major input for the total, but it also matters for New Jersey’s approach. If the Devils get power-play looks, they can force the Islanders into a chase script, and that is where the Islanders’ missing depth can show up late. On the other side, New York will try to keep this at even strength and make it a low-event game where one bounce flips the result.
If you want a sharper framework for weighing totals and side value when goalie and injury uncertainty are central, the NHL expert betting guide is a strong baseline. For bettors thinking beyond one night and tying team profiles into futures angles during the break, the Stanley Cup betting guide helps connect current form to longer-range pricing.
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New Jersey Devils vs New York Islanders Predictions and Best Bets
The lean is New Jersey on the moneyline at -123 because the talent gap grows with the Islanders missing key pieces, and this is the type of spot where the healthier, faster team should dictate play. New Jersey does not need to play perfect hockey, it needs to avoid giveaways in the neutral zone and keep the Islanders from turning this into a board-battle game where the clock drains and the score stays tight.
The Islanders’ path is pretty specific. They need a clean defensive structure, strong goaltending from David Rittich, and enough finishing from their remaining top-end forwards to make New Jersey pay for any sloppy shifts. Without Horvat and with a thinner lineup, it is harder for them to generate sustained offense, which makes them more reliant on opportunistic goals.
On the total, 6.0 is a number that can get threatened quickly if New Jersey’s power play shows up and the Islanders are forced into a more open game. But the more likely script is still a controlled Islanders home effort that tries to compress the game. The deciding factor is whether New Jersey breaks through early. If it does, the total becomes far more live. If it does not, this can stay in the 3-2 range.
Best Bet: New Jersey Devils moneyline (-123).
NHL Picks and Handicappers on ScoresAndStats
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