NHL betting preview (Feb. 26): Devils vs. Avalanche odds
Join Daily Faceoff’s Andy MacNeil as he handicaps Wednesday’s matchup between the New Jersey Devils and Colorado Avalanche.
Devils vs. Avalanche Odds
- New Jersey Devils Moneyline: +130
- Colorado Avalanche Moneyline: -155
- Puck Line: Devils +1.5 (-200), Avalanche -1.5 (+165)
- Game Total: 5.5 (Over -120, Under +100)
Game odds via Sports Interaction.
Handicapping the Devils (32-27 SU, 24-35 ATS, 20-37-2 O/U)
New Jersey opened its five-game Western Conference road swing in style, blanking the Nashville Predators 5-0 on Sunday. But given that the Devils haven’t won back-to-back games in a month, it’s tough to say whether they’ll carry any momentum into Wednesday’s matchup in Colorado. They’ve stumbled to an 8-10-3 record since Dec. 28 but are still clinging to third place in the Metropolitan Division.
According to Evolving Hockey, New Jersey ranks 24th in even-strength expected goals percentage since Jan. 1, yet they remain one of the league’s strongest defensive teams. The real issue? Their offense has been stuck in the mud for nearly two months, ranking among the NHL’s bottom 10 over that stretch.
Special teams have been a bright spot—New Jersey sits third overall on both the power play and penalty kill this season. Their penalty kill has been the NHL’s best since the calendar flipped to 2025, but their power play has cooled off considerably.
Getting captain Nico Hischier back should give the Devils a boost at both ends of the ice, but sustaining any kind of run will be a challenge with starting goaltender Jacob Markstrom sidelined.
New Jersey will be an underdog on the road for the sixth time this season, and they’ve held their own in that spot, posting a 3-2 record for a 1.42-unit profit. They’re 11-9 against Western Conference opponents, including 5-4 away from home. But they’ll need to solve Colorado’s defense this time—New Jersey was shut out by the Avalanche on Dec. 8.
Handicapping the Avalanche (33-26 SU, 23-36 ATS, 26-29-4 O/U)
Colorado will try to snap a two-game skid as it kicks off a six-game homestand, and the Avalanche will get a major boost with Valeri Nichushkin set to return Wednesday after missing nearly two months with a lower-body injury. Colorado has gone 14-7 with Nichushkin in the lineup this season, and the 29-year-old—who has 11 goals and six assists in 21 games—was skating alongside Jonathan Drouin and Casey Mittelstadt at practice.
The Avalanche have controlled play well this season, ranking fourth in shot attempt percentage at even strength, per Evolving Hockey. But while they sit 10th in expected goals percentage, their even-strength goal share ranks just 18th. Goaltending has stabilized since they acquired Mackenzie Blackwood on Dec. 14, but their 5-on-5 scoring hasn’t looked like that of a top-tier team.
Overall, the Avs have been strong defensively, ranking fourth in goals against per 60 minutes in all situations, while their scoring rates sit just outside the top 10. A dominant penalty kill has played a big role in that success, but surprisingly, their power play has struggled. Since Jan. 1, Colorado has had the league’s fifth-worst power-play conversion rate.
Nathan MacKinnon, fresh off an MVP performance at the 4 Nations Face-Off, hasn’t registered a point in two games since returning, but with 11 shots on goal, he’s clearly generating chances. The real issue is Colorado’s offense has gone ice-cold, managing just one goal in each game since play resumed.
Best bets for Devils vs. Avalanche
- Jonathan Drouin Over 0.5 Assists (+145) at Sports Interaction
Drouin doesn’t shoot the puck much, as a pass-first type of player, and that has served him well this season. The 29-year-old has put up 23 points in 26 games, with 17 of those points coming from assists. He’s positioned nicely on the team’s top power play unit alongside players like MacKinnon, Cale Makar, and Martin Necas, and with a shooter like Nichushkin back in the lineup, he’ll have an even greater opportunity to set up a goal during five-on-five play.