New Jersey vs Toronto Prediction 5 March 2026
🔊 A crucial matchup in the battle to keep playoff hopes alive. New Jersey trail the top eight in the East by 11 points, while Toronto are nine points behind. A loss in this head-to-head clash will only add to their woes. Can Toronto secure a win for the first time since the Olympic break? We delve into the history of this rivalry and analyze the stakes ahead of this NHL regular-season game. NHL.
Head-to-Head
📊 Over the past three seasons, New Jersey and Toronto have faced off eight times: the Devils have claimed victory in three games, while the Maple Leafs have won five. Notably, the Canadian club has triumphed in nine consecutive away games - the last time the Devils defeated Toronto on home ice was nearly eight years ago, back in April 2018.
Head-to-head statistics New Jersey - Toronto
New Jersey Devils Team Overview
Sheldon Keefe's team had a rough return to the season, suffering defeats against the Buffalo Sabres (1-2) and the Pittsburgh Penguins (1-4). However, in March, the Devils managed to turn things around slightly by defeating the St. Louis Blues (3-1) and the Florida Panthers (5-1). These victories didn't significantly impact the Devils' standings, as they remain second-to-last in the Eastern Conference, trailing the playoff zone by 11 points.
At home, New Jersey struggles to find consistency, having not secured back-to-back wins at the Prudential Center since late November. Despite their position, the Devils boast a relatively strong defense for a team near the bottom of the conference, conceding an average of 2.76 goals per game at home-the ninth-best in the NHL.
Forward Stefan Noesen has been sidelined since early January, but he is expected to return in mid-March, close to the end of their seven-game home stretch. Meanwhile, Zach MacEwen, who was injured at the start of the season, will not return until after the championship concludes.
Match Results: New Jersey Devils
Toronto Maple Leafs Team Overview
Toronto have had a rougher return to the season. The Maple Leafs suffered four consecutive losses since the championship resumed, falling to the Tampa Bay Lightning (2-4), Florida (1-5), the Ottawa Senators (2-5), and the Philadelphia Flyers (2-3 OT). These defeats have dropped the Maple Leafs two spots down, leaving the Canadian club 13th in the Eastern Conference.
On the road, Toronto are the worst team in the Eastern Conference, securing only 44.6% of possible points away from home. The main culprit is their weak defense, conceding an average of 3.61 goals per game-also the worst in the East. Craig Berube's squad have allowed at least two goals in each of their last ten games.
The coaching staff are trying to address the defensive issues by tweaking line combinations and roster selections. For the game against the Flyers, Troy Stecher was left out, with Philippe Myers taking his place. Toronto will have to manage without injured Chris Tanev for at least another month.
Match Results: Toronto Maple Leafs
⚡️ Key Players
In New Jersey, it's hard to single out a standout star among their scorers. None of the players break into the NHL's top scorers, but three players have surpassed 40 points this season-Jesper Bratt (13 goals, 31 assists), Nico Hischier (20+23), and Jack Hughes (12+29), who has been on a point streak in each of the four games since the break (0+5). Dougie Hamilton (2+2) and Jesper Bratt (0+3) have also been productive in three of those four contests.
For the Canadian club, four players shine in terms of productivity-the top playmaker William Nylander (56 points, 20 goals, 36 assists), top scorer Auston Matthews (51, 26+25), John Tavares (50, 22+28), and Matt Knies (49, 15+34). Nylander (2+2), Tavares (2+1), and Matthews (0+3) have all registered points in three out of four games post-break.
🥅 Goaltenders
Jacob Markström has returned from the Olympic break in stellar form. The Swedish goaltender for New Jersey has stopped 78 shots over his last three games with a save percentage of 92.9% and a goals-against average of 2.02. Including games before the break, Markström has now posted a save percentage of 90% or higher in five consecutive games.
The Maple Leafs' goaltending has been less convincing since the break. Anthony Stolarz has allowed six goals over two and a half games (91.8% save percentage with a GAA of 2.5), while his backup Joseph Woll has struggled significantly more, conceding eight goals in one and a half games (87.3% save percentage, GAA 5.05).
Editorial Prediction
Despite suffering four consecutive defeats, Toronto still sit slightly above their opponent in the Eastern Conference standings, maintaining a more promising shot at breaking into the top eight. On the road against New Jersey, Toronto have won nine straight games, with seven of those victories coming in regulation time.
After securing a comprehensive win by four goals or more over the past two seasons, the Devils have consistently struggled in their following games, losing in regulation in all five instances and failing to secure a regulation win in all six cases. It's reasonable to predict that Toronto, even if they don't snap their losing streak, will at least earn some points and avoid a regulation loss.
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Betting Tips: New Jersey Devils - Toronto Maple Leafs
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