The road trip continues for the New Jersey Devils (20-17-2). After losing to an injury-riddled Toronto Maple Leafs Tuesday night, the Devils storm into Columbus to take on the Blue Jackets (17-15-6). This is the second of a back-to-back for the Devils and the final game to close out 2025.
Matchup Overview
The Devils have been on the losing side of things. They’ve managed to drop their last four games, but getting the loser point against the Washington Capitals on Saturday.
The big thing is being able to see the Devils shooting luck take a turn for the better. Over the last seven games, the Devils have scored more than two goals once. After seeing goalies stuff them endlessly, they managed to breakthrough against the Capitals and scored three goals. That’s encouraging.
The Blue Jackets have won three games in a row and have defeated some stiff competition (Kings, Islanders, Senators). Their entire season has been up and down, seeing them win just three games from in a period of almost a month in November through the middle of December. They are playing better as of late, but certainly a team that the Devils should take advantage of. The Blue Jackets are without key players too. Zack Werenski is on the injured reserve and Sean Monahan missed last game for a maintenance day, but could return.
Projected Lineup
New Jersey Devils
Forwards
Meier-Hischier-Mercer
Palat-Hughes-Bratt
Gritsyuk-Glass-Brown
Cotter-Glendening-Noesen
Defense
Siegenthaler-Hamilton
Hughes-Pesce
Dillon-White
Goalies
Markstrom
Allen
Columbus Blue Jackets
Forwards
Marchment-Fantilli-Marchenko
Voronkov-Sillinger-Wood
Jenner-Coyle-Olivier
Aston-Reese-Gaunce-Johnson
Defense
Provorov-Fabbro
Mateychuk-Severson
Christiansen-Smith
Goalies
Merzlikins
Greaves
What to Watch For
The Devils in the Second of a Back-to-Back
The Devils have had six back-to-back sets so far during the 2025-26 season. The good news is that they managed to win the second of the first back-to-back of the season, defeating the Minnesota Wild 4-1. That was in the midst of the Devils eight game winning streak to begin the season.
Since then? The Devils have lost every single one of the second games of their back-to-back sets. The Devils are now 1-5 in second games of a back-to-back set on the season.
Can the Devils Cool Down the Jackets?
Things have gone right for the Blue Jackets over the course of the winning streak. It’s only a three game sample size, but the Blue Jackets have found success and it’s now a matter of can the Devils slow them down while they have fresher legs?
The Blue Jackets are a team that overall has struggled to keep the puck out of the net, while also struggling to score goals. Their team shooting percentage of near the bottom of the league. However, this winning streak, they’ve scored above their expected rate (6.47 xGF, seven goals) and have allowed four goals in their last three games. Defensively, they’ve limited high quality chances and haven’t given opponents any room.
The good news is all of their goals against have come during five-on-five. Bad news? The Devils have the lowest shooting percentage at five-on-five this season.
How to Watch
New Year’s Eve puck drop is at 7:00 pm ET and can be found on MSG.