Devils Edge Oilers in Close Contest at Rogers Place

In a tightly contested matchup, the New Jersey Devils defeated the Edmonton Oilers 2-1 at Rogers Place. This victory marked the Devils' third consecutive win over the Oilers in their head-to-head series, having previously won all three meetings this season, including a 5-3 win on October 18, 2025, and a 3-2 win on March 13, 2025.

Both teams entered the game with identical records of 5-5 in their last ten games, but their scoring averages told different stories. The Oilers had been scoring an average of 3.5 goals per game at home, while allowing 2.6 goals, showcasing a solid offense paired with a relatively strong defense. In contrast, the Devils averaged 2.3 goals scored and 3.2 allowed in their recent stretch, indicating struggles on both ends of the ice. The Oilers were riding a two-game winning streak, having recently secured a dominant 5-0 victory against the St. Louis Blues and a 6-0 win over the Vancouver Canucks.

The game began with the Devils taking an early lead in the second period when Arseny Gritsyuk scored with a snap shot, assisted by Cody Glass and Dougie Hamilton. The Oilers responded shortly after with a goal from Matt Savoie, who tipped in a shot with assists from Jake Walman and Isaac Howard, leveling the score at 1-1. However, the Devils regained the lead with another goal from Cody Glass, who scored with a snap shot, assisted by Gritsyuk and Connor Brown.

In terms of home and away performance, the Oilers had a home record of 25-18-8, while the Devils boasted a slightly better away record of 26-22-2. The Oilers' recent home form included a record of 2-4 over their last six games, while the Devils had a more balanced away record of 3-3 in their last six.

Injuries played a significant role in this matchup, particularly for the Oilers, who were missing key players including Matt Savoie, Mattias Janmark, Alec Regula, Frederik Andersen, and Adam Henrique. The Devils were also affected, with Arseny Gritsyuk out due to an upper body injury, and other players like Evan Rodrigues, Jonas Siegenthaler, Luke Hughes, and Stefan Noesen unavailable.

The betting market, as provided by DraftKings, had the Oilers favored at -175, with a spread of -1.5 and a total set at 6.5. The odds for the over were listed at 105.0, while the under was at -125. The moneyline reflected the Oilers' status as the home favorites, while the Devils were priced at 145.0.

Conditions for the game were typical for a January evening in Edmonton, with players needing to adapt to the cold environment of Rogers Place. Fans witnessed a competitive game with both teams showcasing their strengths and weaknesses, making it a captivating fixture for hockey enthusiasts.