Sunday’s National Hockey League contest between the Detroit Red Wings and the New Jersey Devils is a battle between two teams fighting for playoff positioning late in the 2025‑26 season. The Red Wings (35‑21‑7) enter Prudential Center in Newark with a solid overall mark and a strong road record, while the Devils (32‑29‑2) have regained some confidence after a recent offensive surge. The betting markets currently show this as a very close game, and I’ll break it all down for you here, while making my Red Wings vs Devils prediction.
Our Red Wings vs Devils Pick
Pick: Devils ML
Confidence: 3 out of 5
Game Snapshot
- Matchup: Detroit Red Wings vs New Jersey Devils
- Date & Time: Sunday, March 8, 2026, 7:00 PM EDT
- Venue: Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey
- Broadcast: ESPN
Key Storylines
Recent form
New Jersey enters this game riding a four-game winning streak, capped by a 6‑3 victory over the New York Rangers in which Jack Hughes recorded a hat trick and the Devils scored on all three of their power‑play chances. That win extended their streak to four consecutive victories and provided a much‑needed offensive spark for a team that has struggled with scoring consistency.
The Red Wings have been less consistent, posting a 3‑5‑2 record over their last ten outings and losing three of their last four games. Detroit is still above average in goals per game, but its recent inconsistency could be a concern when facing a Devils squad that has shown a renewed ability to generate chances.
Goaltending
The goaltending matchup could play a pivotal role. New Jersey’s recent starter Jacob Markstrom has been reliable, making timely saves in key situations, but he should rest on the second game of a back-to-back. Instead, it will be Jake Allen in net for this contest. Detroit’s netminders have kept them in games despite varied defensive support. It will likely be John Gibson back in net for the Wings in this key contest in the Eastern Conference.
Key skaters
- Detroit Red Wings: Lucas Raymond leads Detroit with 65 points in 61 games, and Alex DeBrincat has been the primary finisher with 33 goals.
- New Jersey Devils: Jack Hughes is riding the momentum of recent high‑scoring performances, and Jesper Bratt remains a key playmaker. Nico Hischier’s contributions around the net continue to be important for New Jersey’s attack as well.
Betting Trends & H2H
- The Devils defeated the Red Wings 4-3 in their first matchup of the season in Newark.
- New Jersey is 16-13-2 at home this season.
- Detroit enters this game with a 17-10-4 record on the road.
Red Wings vs Devils Model Projection
Score Projection: Detroit Red Wings 2 – New Jersey Devils 3
Win Probability: Detroit Red Wings 47%, New Jersey Devils 45%
Final Thoughts
My projections make this a very close game between two quality teams. And while I am concerned about the Devils skating on tired lets here on the second game of a back-to-back, I’m going to take New Jersey to win at home anyway, as they have been playing at an elite level of late.
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