Devils Edge Red Wings in Overtime Thriller

What we said beforehand

The upcoming matchup between the Detroit Red Wings and the New Jersey Devils promises to be a compelling contest, particularly as both teams seek to improve their standings early in the season. The game is set to take place at Little Caesars Arena on October 13, 2026, at 22:00 UTC.

The Red Wings enter the game with a home record of 1-3-1, while the Devils hold a slightly better away record of 2-3-0. Detroit's recent form has been challenging, as they have lost their last four games, including a narrow shootout defeat against the Montreal Canadiens, where they lost 1-0 on October 10. Their last five results include a win against the Ottawa Senators (5-3) but are overshadowed by losses to the New York Rangers (2-0), Winnipeg Jets (3-2), Seattle Kraken (6-3), and the aforementioned Canadiens. On average, the Red Wings have scored 2.0 goals and allowed 3.0 goals in their last five matches.

Meanwhile, the Devils have also struggled, losing three of their last five games. Their recent results include a win against the Vancouver Canucks (4-1) and a victory over the Philadelphia Flyers (3-2 in overtime), but they faced defeats against the New York Islanders (6-0), Utah Mammoth (5-3), and Ottawa Senators (4-1). New Jersey's scoring average in their last five games stands at 2.2 goals per game, while they have allowed an average of 3.6 goals.

When it comes to home and away performances, the Red Wings have a record of 2-8 in their last ten home games, with an average of 2.6 goals scored and 3.9 goals allowed. Conversely, the Devils have a record of 4-6 in their last ten away games, scoring an average of 2.3 goals and allowing 3.8 goals.

In terms of head-to-head matchups, the Red Wings have faced the Devils three times this season, with a record of 1-2. Their most recent encounter took place on April 11, 2026, where Detroit lost 3-5 at home. Prior to that, they secured a victory on March 8, 2026, winning 3-0 away. The first meeting of the season saw the Red Wings fall to the Devils 3-4 on November 25, 2025.

Injury concerns could also play a significant role in the game. The Red Wings are dealing with several players on injured reserve, including J.T. Compher, Mason Appleton, and Marco Kasper, all of whom have undisclosed injuries. Additionally, Simon Edvinsson is out due to a contract dispute. On the Devils' side, Luke Evangelista is out with an illness, while Connor Brown, Nick Bjugstad, and Seamus Casey are all on injured reserve with various injuries.

The betting market reflects the competitive nature of this matchup, with DraftKings pricing the Red Wings at -115 on the moneyline and the Devils at -105. The spread is set at -1.5, with a total of 5.5 goals for the game. The over odds are -135, while the under odds are at 114.

As the game approaches, viewers should watch for the performance of key players. For the Red Wings, Viktor Arvidsson leads the team with three goals, while Lucas Raymond has four assists, and Alex DeBrincat has accumulated five points. On the Devils' side, Nico Hischier has scored two goals, and Jack Hughes leads the team with four assists and five points.

Overall, this matchup between the Detroit Red Wings and New Jersey Devils is shaping up to be an intriguing contest, with both teams looking to find their footing as the season progresses.