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Devils vs Wild Picks and Predictions – Monday January 12, 2026
This one has the rare “family angle” that actually matters on the ice. New Jersey comes into Saint Paul with Jack and Luke Hughes, while Minnesota now has Quinn Hughes running the Wild back end. It’s a real test of structure vs momentum, and right now the structure has been missing on the Devils’ side.
The Wild have been banking points for weeks and they’re back home after an overtime loss, which usually sharpens the details. The Devils are dragging into a brutal spot, still searching for answers defensively and playing a style that keeps turning small mistakes into grade-A looks against.
Puck drop is set for 8:00 PM ET at Grand Casino Arena, with coverage on ESPN+.
New Jersey Devils vs Minnesota Wild Odds
These are the current betting lines, but you’ll want to keep an eye on the updated NHL odds on the NHL odds page as the goalie confirmation can swing the price fast.
| Team | Moneyline | Puck Line | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Jersey Devils | +154 | +1.5 (-175) | 5.5 (O -135 / U +114) |
| Minnesota Wild | -185 | -1.5 (+145) | 5.5 (O -135 / U +114) |
New Jersey Devils Betting Form
New Jersey’s problem isn’t effort, it’s the way their game is breaking down. They’ve been giving up extended-zone time and second looks in front, and once that starts, their rush offense has to be perfect to keep up. That’s not where you want to live as a road dog, especially when your margin for error is basically gone.
If Jacob Markstrom starts, you’re betting on a bounce-back profile and a veteran who can steal a segment of the game when the Devils get loose. If it’s Jake Allen instead, it’s still playable, but the handicap shifts because New Jersey’s defensive details have not supported either goalie during this skid. You need cleaner exits and fewer high-danger resets, or it turns into another “one mistake becomes two goals” night.
You can track trends and splits in the New Jersey Devils stats and results. For availability, monitor the New Jersey Devils injury report.
Minnesota Wild Betting Form
Minnesota’s form has been steadier, and their identity travels well: defend the middle, win the wall battles, then turn those stops into controlled offense. The Quinn Hughes and Brock Faber pairing has given them a clean first pass and better pace through the neutral zone, which matters against a Devils team that’s been losing structure at the exact moments you can’t.
The Wild also feel like they know how they want to win. If they get ahead, they can lock into a simple, heavy game. If they trail, they’ve got enough puck-moving to tilt the ice without turning it into chaos. That’s a strong profile for laying a price at home, especially against a team arriving off a rough stretch.
For deeper matchup context, the Minnesota Wild schedule and stats help frame how they’ve been winning at home. For availability, monitor the Minnesota Wild injury report.
New Jersey Devils vs Minnesota Wild Matchup Breakdown
Start with the spot. New Jersey is in a tougher schedule and travel situation, while Minnesota is set up to dictate matchups at home and keep the pace where they want it. On the road, when the Devils get stretched, their defensive gaps show up fast, and Minnesota’s puck movers are built to punish soft coverage.
At 5v5, Minnesota’s edge is the way they can play through pressure without panicking. The Devils can generate chances, but too often they’re chasing the game after a coverage miss or a failed clear. That’s where the Wild can grind out the “one more shift in the O-zone” that flips a spread or puck line.
Special teams can swing this too. If New Jersey takes penalties because they’re late to spots and reaching, Minnesota gets extra leverage. If the Devils stay disciplined and the game stays at 5v5, they at least have a path to keep this within one. If you’re still building your process for these spots, the NHL betting guide is a solid framework for how to weigh goalies, special teams, and rest.
Goalie confirmation matters. Markstrom has the reputation edge, but New Jersey’s current defending has been the bigger issue than the crease. For Minnesota, either Gustavsson or Wallstedt can hold the game together if the Wild limit the slot and keep rebounds clean.
New Jersey Devils vs Minnesota Wild Predictions and Best Bets
My baseline here is simple: Minnesota is the more stable team right now, and the matchup lines up with the Devils’ weaknesses. If New Jersey is still leaking chances off failed clears and losing assignments around the net, Minnesota will generate enough looks to win this game outright.
The moneyline is playable, but it’s priced like a team that should win, not a team that has to win. For betting value, I’d rather take the plus-money angle and ask Minnesota to win by margin. The Devils’ current profile is the kind that turns a 2-1 game into 4-1 late when they start forcing offense and the empty net comes into play.
The total is the tricky part. A 5.5 can go either way quickly if New Jersey’s mistakes are loud early. But if Minnesota gets a lead and slows the game into a controlled, defensive rhythm, the Devils can get stuck in the mud. I’m not building my card around the total here.
Best Bet: Minnesota Wild -1.5 (+145)
NHL Picks and Handicappers on ScoresAndStats
If you’re playing a full NHL slate, this is where you tighten your process and let the market work for you. The NHL picks page is useful for scanning angles across games and comparing how different bettors are approaching sides and totals.
If you want to track who’s actually been sharp, start with the best handicappers and then drill down into the leaderboard to see who’s producing over meaningful samples. If you’re looking for a bigger menu of plays and timing, you can also access premium packages through buy picks. And if you want more matchup pages like this one across the schedule, the NHL previews hub keeps everything organized. For longer-range betting context, the Stanley Cup betting guide can help you think about conference paths, pricing, and timing.
