The New Jersey Devils (1-1-0) and Columbus Blue Jackets (1-1-0) are lined up for a Monday battle at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. The opening puck drop will be at 7 p.m. ET (ESPN+). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s NHL odds around the Devils vs. Blue Jackets odds and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.
Season series: First meeting; New Jersey won last season’s series 2-1
New Jersey is closing out a 3-game road swing to start the 2025-26 season. The Devils have split the first 2 games of that trip, losing 6-3 at the Carolina Hurricanes Thursday and then defeating the Tampa Bay Lightning 5-3 Saturday. Last season, New Jersey went 23-16-2 on the road, and its .585 point percentage ranked tied for fourth in the NHL.
The Blue Jackets opened Thursday with a 2-1 loss at the Nashville Predators and then bounced back Saturday with a 7-4 win at Minnesota Wild. Columbus won Saturday’s game despite being outshot by 52-32. RW Kirill Marchenko, who clocked a career-high 31 goals last season, booked a hat trick against the Wild.Play our free daily Pick’em Challenge and win! Play now!
Devils at Blue Jackets odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 10:18 a.m. ET.
Moneyline (ML): Devils -135 (bet $135 to win $100) | Blue Jackets +110 (bet $100 to win $110)Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Devils -1.5 (+170) | Blue Jackets +1.5 (-210)Over/Under (O/U): 6 (O: -110 | U: -110)Devils at Blue Jackets projected goalies
Jacob Markstrom (last season: 26-21-5, 3.18 GAA, .892 SV%) vs. Elvis Merzlikins (last season: 26-21-5, 3.18 GAA, .892 SV%)
Markstrom started the Devils’ first 2 games. He has thus far allowed 8 goals on 49 shots (.837 SV%). He owns a .925 career SV% in 9 games against Columbus.
Merzlikins has logged 1 game in the early going. He started Saturday at Minnesota and made 48 saves while facing 52 shots. All 4 goals he allowed were in even-strength play. In his career, he has posted a .908 SV% at home and an .895 SV% on the road.
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Devils at Blue Jackets picks and predictionsPrediction
Devils 3, Blue Jackets 2
New Jersey is 5-1 over its last 6 games against Columbus. Since 2023, the Devils have gone 3-1 across 4 road games at Nationwide Arena.
New Jersey has been better on defense than what has showed in final scores. The Devils have been stingy in not yielding close-in looks in 5-on-5 play, and they have stymied 6-of-7 power plays. A play on better goaltending and coming off allowing just 17 shots against Tampa make the Devils the lean here.
Columbus has allowed a few too many high-danger chances against in 5-on-5 situations. The Jackets have oft been penalized so far and have already yielded 5 powerplay goals. Last season, Columbus ranked 22nd in the league with a 77% kill rate on penalties.
BACK THE DEVILS (-135).
More juice here; AVOID.
The Under has gone 3-1 across the last 4 series meetings.
The contrary-to-first-glance Under lean is the profitable way to go here. Look for tighter play overall from both sides, and some spirited play by the Blue Jackets in their home opener.
The UNDER 6 (-110) is the value side here.
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