Devils Defeat Wild 5-2 in NHL Clash

The New Jersey Devils secured a decisive 5-2 victory over the Minnesota Wild at the Grand Casino Arena on January 12, 2026, marking their third consecutive win against the Wild in their recent series. This match highlighted the Devils' ability to capitalize on their scoring opportunities, while the Wild struggled to maintain their defensive composure.

The Devils entered the game with an away record of 23-21-2, while the Wild boasted a stronger home record of 26-12-9. However, the recent form of both teams suggested a different narrative. The Wild had a record of 4-6 in their last ten games, with an average of 3.2 goals scored and 3.4 goals allowed. They had lost their last game against the New York Islanders, 3-4, and were on a one-game losing streak. In contrast, the Devils had been struggling even more, with a record of 2-8 in their last ten games, averaging only 1.7 goals scored and 3.6 goals allowed. They were on a four-game losing streak, having lost their last match against the Winnipeg Jets, 3-4.

At home, the Wild had a record of 0-3 in their last three games, while the Devils had fared poorly on the road, with a home record of 1-3 in their last four away games. The matchup was particularly intriguing given the Devils' previous dominance over the Wild in their head-to-head meetings, winning all three matchups in the current season, including a 1-4 defeat for the Wild on October 22, 2025, and a 2-3 loss on March 31, 2025.

In terms of injuries, the Wild were missing goaltender Filip Gustavsson due to a hip issue. The Devils faced a more extensive injury list, with Arseny Gritsyuk out with an upper body injury, Evan Rodrigues on injured reserve with a finger injury, and Jonas Siegenthaler and Luke Hughes both out with undisclosed injuries. Additionally, Stefan Noesen was on injured reserve due to a knee injury.

The betting market, as provided by DraftKings, favored the Wild with odds of MIN -175, while the Devils had odds of 145. The spread was set at -1.5, with a total of 5.5 for the game, reflecting expectations of a moderately high-scoring affair.

The game began with the Devils taking an early lead when Dawson Mercer scored a goal in the first period, assisted by Nico Hischier. The Wild responded in the second period with a goal from Ryan Hartman, but the Devils quickly regained their advantage with Ondrej Palat scoring shortly after. The third period saw the Devils extend their lead significantly, with Jesper Bratt netting two goals and Palat adding another, bringing the score to 5-1. Marcus Foligno managed to score a consolation goal for the Wild, but it was not enough to change the outcome.

Overall, this match showcased the Devils' offensive prowess and the Wild's defensive vulnerabilities, particularly in light of their recent form and injury challenges. Fans should continue to watch for the Devils' developing chemistry on offense, especially with players like Hischier and Bratt contributing significantly to their scoring efforts.