The Tuesday NHL schedule includes an Eastern Conference game between the Columbus Blue Jackets and New Jersey Devils at Prudential Center. Columbus arrives scorching hot off five consecutive wins, while New Jersey is searching for answers after a tough offensive stretch. Here, I break down this matchup on the ice and give you my Blue Jackets vs Devils prediction before these teams do battle.
Our Blue Jackets vs Devils Pick
Under 6.5 ATS PRO
Confidence: 3/5
Game Snapshot
- Matchup: Columbus Blue Jackets vs New Jersey Devils
- Date & Time: Tuesday, February 3, 2026, 7:00 PM ET
- Venue: Prudential Center, Newark, NJ
- Broadcast: ESPN+
Key Storylines
Recent form
- Columbus enters riding a 5-game winning streak that has lifted the Jackets to 27-20-7. That hot streak has also moved the Jackets back into postseason contention in the Eastern Conference.
- New Jersey has dropped 3 of the last 4 games, including a 4-1 defeat at Ottawa after defeating Nashville 3-2 in overtime. The Devils sit 28-25-2 and have struggled to sustain scoring at even strength.
Goaltending
- Blue Jackets: Jet Greaves has been the recent starter and enters this one off strong work during the Jackets' winning streak. His workload has trended upward with improved rebound control and efficient puckhandling behind the net.
- Devils: Jake Allen started in Ottawa, while Jacob Markstrom has rotated in frequently. New Jersey’s crease has been a timeshare and Markstrom is expected to get the start in this contest for the Devils.
- Edge assessment: Columbus has allowed fewer high-danger looks of late, helping its netminder see shots cleanly, whereas New Jersey’s structure has wobbled in front of its goalies during this skid.
Key skaters
- Columbus: Zach Werenski leads the way with 60 points on 19 goals and 41 assists and remains a catalyst on entries and in the first power-play unit. Kirill Marchenko and Adam Fantilli add finishing ability, while other scorers have chipped in during the streak.
- New Jersey: Nico Hischier sits at 41 points on 18 goals and 23 assists. Jesper Bratt continues to create off the rush, and Timo Meier’s shot volume and net-front presence remain critical to jump-starting the attack.
- Injuries to monitor: For Columbus, Marchenko is listed as day-to-day. For New Jersey, Jack Hughes has been day-to-day and Luke Hughes is on long-term injured reserve, with Stefan Noesen also on IR. Any early confirmation on Jack Hughes' status could swing pricing.
Betting Trends & H2H
- The season series stands 2-1 to New Jersey with road wins in Columbus on October 13 and December 31, and a 5-3 Blue Jackets victory in Newark on December 1.
- The road team is 3-0 in matchups between these teams so far this season.
- Two of the three matchups between these teams this season have stayed under their respective totals.
Blue Jackets vs Devils Model Projection
Score Projection: Columbus Blue Jackets 3.3 – New Jersey Devils 2.7
Win Probability: Columbus Blue Jackets 54%, New Jersey Devils 46%
Final Thoughts
Columbus is playing faster through the neutral zone, defending the slot with better discipline, and getting enough special-teams help to finish off opponents late. New Jersey’s best path is a heavy shot-share led by Hischier, Bratt, and Meier plus sharper puck movement on the man advantage, but recent outings have showcased some finishing issues and inconsistent defensive coverage. With the Jackets riding a 5-game surge and New Jersey’s attack sputtering, I'm going to take Columbus to pick up the win in this one.
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