Game day
Puck dropWho's playing
The line
| Market | AZMango | |
|---|---|---|
| Moneyline | STL +160 NJ -192 | STL +171 NJ -171 fair |
| Puck line | NJ -1.5 (+136) | NJ covers 40% |
| Total goals | 5.5 | 5.5 · over 43% |
Line: , DraftKings. Odds move; check a book before acting. In hockey the moneyline carries the market's view; the puck line is almost always 1.5 goals, with the price doing the work.
5,000 simulated games
- Expected goals
- NJ 3.1, STL 2.4
- 8 in 10 games
- STL by 2 to NJ by 4
- Tied after 60 minutes
- 24%
Advantages Why Devils can win
- Shot margins: Devils have controlled play better (shots for and against, adjusted for opponents), worth about 0.38 goals to them in our ratings.
- Recent form: average goal margin over the last five games, Devils +1.4, Blues -0.8.
- Home ice: Devils play at home, with the last line change; home teams win about 54% of NHL games.
- Team matchup: where Devils can take advantage. Their shot volume (2nd of 32) meets the Blues shot suppression (21st), so look for them to pile up shots and make the goalie work all night.
- Star matchup: Best skater against best skater, Jack Hughes (Devils: 8 G, 11 A in 15 games, 20 min a night) has the edge on Dylan Holloway (Blues: 3 G, 9 A in 15 games, 18 min a night).
- The betting market agrees: Devils 63% to win on the moneyline, after removing the sportsbooks' margin.
- Simulation: Devils win 3,155 of 5,000 simulated games.
Disadvantages Why Devils may not
- In goal: Joel Hofer (Blues expected starter, 0.918 save percentage in 11 starts) has been the better goalie lately than Connor Hellebuyck (Devils expected starter, 0.900 save percentage in 3 starts), worth about 0.50 goals a game in our ratings.
- Range of outcomes: in the worst 10% of simulations Devils lose by 2 goals or more.
- Weak spot: Devils rank 31st of 32 in faceoffs won (50.3%).
- Weak spot: Devils rank 25th of 32 in shooting percentage (10.6%).
- Team matchup: a strength Devils may not get to use. Their scoring (11th of 32) meets the Blues goal prevention (10th), one of the better units at stopping it, which can take away their plan to turn chances into goals against a team that gives them up.
- Star matchup: the key positions lean Devils on paper, but Dylan Holloway (3 G, 9 A in 15 games, 18 min a night) is the kind of player who can swing one game.
- Upset odds: Blues win 1,845 of 5,000 simulations (37%). A 63% pick still loses about 4 times in 10. About 24% of the simulations went past regulation.
In goal
STL Blues
- ExpectedJoel Hofer0.918 save %, 11 starts, +4.2 goals saved above average
NJ Devils
- ExpectedConnor Hellebuyck0.900 save %, 3 starts, -0.3 goals saved above average
"Confirmed" and "Expected" are as reported. Starters are usually named at the morning skate or in warmups; until then we expect the team's usual starter, or the backup on the second night of a back-to-back.
🥭 Mango Sliced Facts
Ask about this matchup; answers use only this page.
Loading…
Sign in or create a free account to ask.
AI answers can be wrong; the numbers above rule. Not betting advice.
Team news
Loading the latest headlines...
Each headline links to the full story. Injuries, lineups, suspensions and coaching news come first. We leave out rumors, gossip about players' private lives and betting promos.
Who's out
STL Blues
- Nobody listed out or questionable.
NJ Devils
- Sat outDawson Mercersat out last game
Regulars who sat out a team's last game count as likely out (box scores). Also checked: who played in recent games, ESPN team rosters, ESPN and CBS Sports news. Players out or doubtful are never counted as a strength.
Side by sideStandings
| STL | NJ | |
|---|---|---|
| 7-7-1 | Record | 10-5-0 |
| +0.00 18 | Goal differential/game | +0.60 6 |
| 3.00 20 | Goals per game | 3.47 11 |
| 3.00 10 | Goals allowed | 2.87 6 |
| 48.7% 17 | Shot share | 57.2% 2 |
| 26.9 19 | Shots per game | 32.7 2 |
| 28.3 21 | Shots allowed | 24.5 4 |
| 11.2% 19 | Shooting % | 10.6% 25 |
| 0.901 7 | Save % | 0.886 20 |
| 0.60 18 | Power-play goals/game | 0.60 18 |
| 6.5 3 | Penalty minutes/game | 5.7 1 |
| 53.3% 25 | Faceoffs won | 50.3% 31 |
| +0.09 8 | Strength of schedule | +0.02 13 |
Small numbers are ranks among the 32 NHL teams (1 = best). Records are wins, regulation losses and overtime or shootout losses. Strength of schedule is the average rating of opponents faced, in goals (2026-27 season).
Last 5 meetings
- Devils 3 @ Blues 1Feb 28, 2026
- Blues 2 @ Devils 3Nov 26, 2025 · OT
- Devils 4 @ Blues 1Dec 17, 2024
- Blues 3 @ Devils 0Nov 27, 2024
- Blues 1 @ Devils 4Mar 7, 2024
Your pick
Locks at puck drop · Challenge a friend · All picks · Leaderboard
What if?
Based on market line + adjustments. How it works
Game chat
Sign in or create a free account to chat.
Be a good sport: no threats, hate, personal details or spam. Open the full chat