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Mammoth vs Devils Picks and Predictions – Saturday January 3, 2026
The Utah Mammoth head to Newark for an afternoon puck drop against the New Jersey Devils at Prudential Center on Saturday, January 3, 2026 (3:00 PM). Utah is 19-19-3 and sitting 4th in the Western Central, while New Jersey is 21-17-2 and 7th in the Eastern Metro. This is the type of interconference game where two points matter more than the matchup name, especially with both teams hovering around the playoff line.
Utah just popped for a 7-2 win over the Islanders and that kind of outburst changes how you handicap them short-term. New Jersey is coming off a 3-2 win over Columbus and they are still getting to their offense through volume. If this turns into a shots and special teams game, it favors the home side. If it turns into a loose, open exchange, Utah’s top-end finish can travel.
Fans can catch it on ESPN+.
Utah Mammoth vs New Jersey Devils Odds
These are the current betting lines, and bettors should monitor updated NHL odds leading into puck drop.
| Team | Moneyline | Puck Line | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Utah Mammoth | +109 | +1.5 (-243) | O 5.5 (-116) |
| New Jersey Devils | -130 | -1.5 (+189) | U 5.5 (-107) |
Utah Mammoth Betting Form
Utah’s range is wide, but the ceiling is real when their skill players are finishing. The 7-2 win over the Islanders was a reminder that this team can turn a normal game into a track meet if the puck is going in early. They are top-10 in goals and top-12 in shots on goal, which matters because it suggests the scoring is not only a shooting-percentage spike. They can generate chances.
The betting angle with Utah is figuring out when that offense translates against a structured opponent. Their power play ranking 13th gives them an actual path to goals even if 5v5 is tighter. As an underdog, that’s valuable. You do not need to win the expected-goals battle for 60 minutes if you can steal a power play goal and keep the game close into the third.
For recent results and team splits, use the Utah Mammoth team page. On availability, Utah has some meaningful absences listed out, including Logan Cooley, and their goaltending status for this specific matchup needs to be confirmed. Check the linked Utah Mammoth injury report before you lock in anything pregame.
New Jersey Devils Betting Form
New Jersey’s profile is pretty clean for bettors: they shoot a ton, they can sustain pressure, and they usually do not need a perfect finishing night to control territory. They are sixth in the league in shots on goal, and the Columbus game showed the same template with 33 shots. When they are playing downhill, it forces opponents to defend, take penalties, and spend shifts trapped.
The power play being 12th is good enough to matter, especially against a team that wants to play with pace. Special teams can swing this matchup because Utah’s best version is aggressive and attacking, and that style can lead to penalties if they are chasing back through the neutral zone. New Jersey also blocks shots at a solid clip, which tends to suppress the clean looks that feed overs.
The Devils have several names currently listed out, including Evgenii Dadonov and Simon Nemec, and the crease is the big variable. Jacob Markstrom and Jake Allen have both been used, and if the starter is not confirmed close to game time, that uncertainty should influence how you size the bet. For a full view of form and trends, check the New Jersey Devils team page, and confirm availability through the New Jersey Devils injury report.
Utah Mammoth vs New Jersey Devils Matchup Breakdown
At 5v5, this looks like a volume team versus a finish team. New Jersey wants to win the shot battle and keep the puck in the offensive zone, while Utah is comfortable playing faster, attacking off the rush, and letting their skill do damage when the game opens up. That usually points to New Jersey controlling large stretches, but it does not automatically mean they separate on the scoreboard.
Special teams matter because both power plays are functional and both teams can get streaky. If Utah can keep their penalty count down and avoid long defensive shifts, they have a real chance to steal this game late. If New Jersey is living on the power play, the moneyline is going to look cheap in hindsight.
The schedule and travel angle is not nothing here. Utah is crossing time zones for a 3:00 PM start, and those early games can start slow for the road team. That can show up in the first period, and it can also show up in puck management, where one or two bad changes lead to sustained pressure and penalties.
The goalie edge is the swing factor. If New Jersey confirms the hotter option and gets even average goaltending, their shot volume gives them the higher win probability. If the crease is shaky or Utah gets a strong start, this becomes a one-goal game where the underdog puck line is live the whole way.
Utah Mammoth vs New Jersey Devils Predictions and Best Bets
My strongest lean is New Jersey moneyline (-130). The Devils’ ability to generate shots is the most repeatable edge in this matchup, and it tends to travel well inside a game even if finishing comes and goes. Against a Utah team that can be explosive but also inconsistent, I would rather bet on the team that can win the possession game for long stretches.
The total is more interesting than it looks. Utah is coming off a 7-goal night, but New Jersey’s recent trend has been toward lower totals, and the Devils can drag games into a grind when they are playing behind the puck properly. With a 5.5, you do not need a dead game to cash an under. You just need one team to stall at two goals, and that is very plausible if the first period is tight and the whistle is quiet.
If you want the plus-money angle, Utah +1.5 is playable based on how New Jersey has performed on the puck line as a favorite. But from a straight betting perspective, I think the cleaner bet is backing the Devils to win a close one, then deciding live whether the pace supports an over or an under.
Best Bet: New Jersey Devils ML (-130)
NHL Picks and Handicappers on ScoresAndStats
If you’re building a full slate, start with the current NHL picks and compare them with what you see in matchup-specific coverage on the NHL previews hub. It’s the fastest way to spot where the market is moving and where opinions are clustering.
For accountability and performance tracking, use the best handicappers page and then verify short-term form on the leaderboard. If you want packaged plays, you can browse options on the buy picks page, and if you’re tightening your process for hockey specifically, the NHL betting guide plus the deeper Stanley Cup betting guide are good references for pricing goal variance, puck lines, and totals.
