The New Jersey Devils take on the Colorado Avalanche in Denver, CO. Puck drop is set for 9:30 p.m. ET on ESPN+.
Colorado is favored on the puck line at -1.5 with a moneyline of -125. The total is set at 6 goals.
Here are my Devils vs. Avalanche predictions and NHL picks for February 26, 2025.
New Jersey Devils vs. Colorado Avalanche Prediction
- Pick: Avalanche ML (-125)
My Devils vs. Colorado best bet is on the Avalanche moneyline, with the best odds currently available at BetMGM. For all of your NHL bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NHL odds page.
Devils vs. Avalanche Odds, Spread, Lines
| Devils Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -235 | 6 +100o / -120u | +105 |
| Avalanche Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 +195 | 6 -125o / 105u | -125 |
- Devils vs. Avalanche puck line: Devils +1.5, Avalanche -1.5
- Devils vs. Avalanche over/under: 6
- Devils vs. Avalanche moneyline: Devils ML +105, Avalanche ML -125
- Devils vs. Avalanchepick: Avalanche ML
New Jersey Devils Preview
The Devils began their five-game West Coast trip with a 5-0 throttling against the Nashville Predators. The one problem for the Devils is that inconsistency has haunted them for the past 10 games. Dating back before the 4 Nations break, New Jersey has traded wins and losses since January 25th.
Given how tight-knit the Eastern Conference has been all season, the urgency has risen, and it showed on Sunday.
Superstar forward Jack Hughes was held to only one point during the 4 Nations tournament, but since returning he's registered three points. Jesper Bratt has also been a machine this season, breaking the Devils franchise record for assists in 10 consecutive games.
Apart from the two-headed beast in New Jersey, the streak of inconsistency is rearing its ugly head in the numbers, as New Jersey is playing overall sloppy hockey. Aside from the Predators game, the Devils were playing at the second-worst 5-on-5 offense with a 40.9 xGF%, and were ranked dead last in defense at a 3.74 xGA/60.
What will be something to watch out for, is when goalie Jacob Markstrom returns from his injury. The hulking Swede suffered an injury right around the time New Jersey started to lose its touch. Now it's been rolling out Jake Allen and Nico Daws, who have done their best to keep the boys afloat.
Colorado Avalanche Preview
Colorado certainly has the star power in Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar, but the Mikko Rantanen trade last month will forever be a mystery.
And now, since the trade, the Avalanche have gone 5-5, including falling in the first two games back from the break. The piece they got in return, Martin Necas, is blending in nicely with MacKinnon—which isn’t hard to do. He has nine points in 10 games, and I believe the more they play together, the better Necas will become as a scorer.
I'm not overly concerned about Colorado. The results may not show it, but this team has been dominant yet snake-bitten, ranking third in expected goals since February 1 with a 59.07 xGF% and second defensively with a 2.14 xGA/60.
One of the biggest stories in Denver is the play of former Devil, Mackenzie Blackwood. Colorado snagged him from the Sharks on December 9, and he's been the goalie it's been looking for since Darcy Kuemper left.
He's playing to a wonderful .921 SV% and a 12.7 GSAx since donning the maroon and blue which makes the Avs more dangerous than they already were.
Devils vs. Avalanche
Betting Pick & Prediction
I'm hammering the Avalanche like I'm Bob Vila. New Jersey has shown that it's way too volatile for me to back it at plus money.
There's zero momentum going the Devils’ way, and it doesn't look like there will be any until Markstrom returns.
While Hughes and Bratt have been crushing it for the most part, the numbers do not favor the rest of the team. Trends would also suggest that since New Jersey is coming off a win, a loss is due up.
Back the talent and back the numbers.
Pick: Colorado Avalanche ML -125
