Ducks vs Devils

Jack Hughes and the New Jersey Devils limp into this one having dropped six of their last seven, but they catch an Anaheim Ducks team on a back-to-back after a 5-2 loss on Long Island that snapped the Ducks’ three-game win streak and likely leaves them leaning on Lukas Dostal again in net. With Anaheim still sitting first in the Pacific at 19-11-1 but only modestly positive in goal differential, and New Jersey 9-5-1 at home despite the recent slide, the spot and matchup matter: the Devils are rested, slightly better defensively by shots against and penalty kill, and their power play has been more efficient than Anaheim’s, which helps offset the loss of wings Timo Meier and Arseny Gritsyuk along with depth scorer Evgenii Dadonov. Anaheim’s only notable injury is backup Petr Mrazek, while the active rosters feature plenty of firepower on both sides, but the historical matchup edge of Troy Terry against New Jersey (6 goals, 5 assists, +7 in 10 games) is balanced by Jesper Bratt and Nico Hischier’s steady production against Anaheim, and New Jersey’s underlying team metrics plus home ice and rest tilt this just enough toward the Devils at a fair price of -125. I grade this moneyline pick a B: solid but not slam-dunk value given New Jersey’s form, with a reasonable edge tied to schedule, special teams, and home-ice advantage. Odds and availability are subject to change. This bet was made at 13/12/2025 09:23([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/nhl/game/_/gameId/401802846/ducks-devils))

Anaheim comes in averaging north of three and a half goals per game and allowing just over three, while New Jersey scores just under three and concedes a bit above three, so their combined offensive and defensive profiles land right around a true total in the mid-6s, and Anaheim’s recent run of high-event games (totals of 7-plus goals in four of their last five) suggests the Ducks can drag the tempo up even in a matinee. The Devils’ recent scores have been volatile—shut out twice in a row earlier this month but also involved in a 12-goal track meet against Tampa Bay—and their power play efficiency and shot volume should still generate chances against a Ducks penalty kill sitting in the mid-70s, especially with Anaheim coming in on tired legs and asking a busy goaltending tandem to handle another road start less than 24 hours after facing the Islanders. New Jersey is missing Meier and Gritsyuk, which trims some finishing talent, but they still roll Hughes, Hischier and Bratt at the top of the lineup, while Anaheim’s deep forward group around Leo Carlsson, Troy Terry and Frank Vatrano has been consistently dangerous, making a push or win on an Over 6 at -125 a reasonable expectation. I grade the total Over 6 as a B- pick: the matchup and numbers lean to goals, but key Devils absences and the possibility of a grinding response game after an 8-4 loss inject just enough risk to keep it shy of top-tier confidence. Odds and availability are subject to change. This bet was made at 13/12/2025 09:23([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/nhl/game/_/gameId/401802846/ducks-devils))

Given Anaheim’s overall form at 19-11-1 and their strong top-six anchored by Leo Carlsson, Troy Terry and Mason McTavish, grabbing the Ducks at +1.5 on the puckline leans into the likelihood of a tight game, even if scheduling and injuries still point to New Jersey eking out the win. The Ducks have generally kept games close, with a goal differential profile that doesn’t scream frequent blowouts, and their offense has proven capable of denting quality goaltending, as seen in recent multi-goal efforts against playoff-caliber teams, while New Jersey’s current issues—six losses in the last seven, missing Meier, Gritsyuk and Dadonov on the wings, and inconsistent goaltending between Jacob Markstrom and Jake Allen—make it harder to trust them to win by margin even when they control play territorially. The active rosters on both sides feature enough finishing that late empty-net scenarios could cut either way, but historical production like Terry’s strong numbers versus the Devils and the Ducks’ earlier 4-1 win in this season’s first meeting suggest Anaheim can keep this competitive more often than not, though the steep -250 price on +1.5 limits the long-term value. I grade Ducks +1.5 a C+ pick: reasonably likely to cash thanks to Anaheim’s scoring depth and New Jersey’s inconsistency, but the heavy juice makes it more of a safer-side parlay piece than a standalone target. Odds and availability are subject to change. This bet was made at 13/12/2025 09:23([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/nhl/game/_/gameId/401802846/ducks-devils))