New Jersey vs Ottawa Prediction 12 October 2026
🔊 New Jersey and Ottawa have kicked off the season in very different fashion. The Devils have alternated wins and losses, leaving them 11th in the Eastern Conference after four games. The Senators, on the other hand, have claimed victory in four of their first five outings and climbed to third in the conference standings. However, New Jersey’s latest performance against Vancouver suggested that the hosts are starting to find solutions-especially on the power play. Now, at the Prudential Center, they’ll look to put those improvements to the test against a side that has already racked up eight points.
Wins do not guarantee an advantage
📊 In last season’s regular campaign, New Jersey took two out of three games against Ottawa, though the Senators narrowly edged the Devils on aggregate goals, 10-9. Each clash unfolded in its own way. In December, the Devils snapped a five-game losing streak thanks to a late game-winner from Cody Glass in the third period. January saw the Senators strike back with a convincing 4-1 victory on home ice, as Linus Ullmark turned aside 26 of 27 shots. Their most recent head-to-head came on April 12, with New Jersey prevailing 4-3 in overtime. Nico Hischier bagged a brace, including the decisive power-play goal. That defeat stung for Ottawa, as it had a direct impact on their playoff positioning.
Head-to-head statistics New Jersey - Ottawa
Most have finally found their rhythm.
After four games, New Jersey have picked up two wins and two losses, collecting four points with a goal differential of 10-14. That tally is only good enough for 11th place in the Eastern Conference at this stage. The main concern remains their defense, which has already conceded 14 goals. Offensively, the Devils haven’t always been clinical either, although they finally found their rhythm on the power play in their last outing against Vancouver. The team converted three times with the man advantage and secured a 4-1 victory. Sheldon Keefe singled out the special teams’ performance postgame, while Nico Hischier admitted that the squad had spent significant time working on various setups. Still, even in that win, New Jersey conceded first-a recurring theme across all four games to start the season.
That said, the victory over Vancouver can’t be credited solely to the power play. Jesper Boqvist notched his second goal in as many games, capitalizing on a turnover forced by Amadeus Lombardi’s relentless forechecking. For the young forward, that play marked his first NHL point. Jake Allen also enjoyed a milestone night: in his 500th league appearance, he stopped 21 of 22 shots. However, facing Ottawa will pose a stiffer test for the Devils’ defense, especially if they allow the opposition to strike first yet again. Adding to their challenge, Nick Bjugstad and Seamus Casey will both miss out through injury.
Match Results: New Jersey Devils
They keep winning even without racking up the goals.
Ottawa have kicked off the season with four wins in their opening five games, climbing to third place in the Eastern Conference. With a goal differential of 15-11, the team aren't looking to turn every contest into a shootout, despite having plenty of offensive weapons. Tim Stützle has been pivotal, registering a goal and an assist in their latest outing, while Claude Giroux’s veteran presence adds versatility up front. Ahead of their clash with Nashville, the coaching staff also brought Andre Burakovsky back into the lineup, planning to slot him alongside Stützle and Drake Batherson. Meanwhile, defenseman Thomas Chabot has stressed the need for a more straightforward approach in the offensive zone, noting that the team too often looks for the perfect play instead of simply putting pucks on net and battling for rebounds.
Their 2-1 victory over Philadelphia is a prime example of this mindset. Carter Yakemchuk netted the game-winner on the power play late in the third period. The young blueliner didn’t have a flawless performance, but Travis Green continued to trust him with ice time, and Yakemchuk seized his opportunity. The Senators’ blue line, however, is dealing with personnel issues. Artem Zub remains sidelined with a knee injury, and Jake Sanderson’s status is still uncertain. In this context, Linus Ullmark’s play becomes even more crucial-he’s won each of his first three starts this season. If Ottawa can stay out of the penalty box, they have every reason to expect a tightly contested battle with New Jersey.
Match Results: Ottawa Senators
Prediction for the 1st period
High-scoring opening periods are a rarity in Senators games. In 13 of their last 14 outings, fewer than three goals have been scored in the first 20 minutes. This trend holds on the road as well, with the under hitting in six of their previous seven away fixtures. Even factoring in New Jersey’s recent offensive surge, under 2.5 goals in the first period stands out as a well-founded prediction.
Total Goals Prediction
New Jersey are no strangers to high-scoring games, with their matchups frequently surpassing the four-goal mark. The over 4.5 total has landed in 11 of the Devils’ last 12 home fixtures. Against Vancouver, the team managed to notch four goals on their own, proving they don’t necessarily need their opponents to contribute heavily to keep this trend alive. The recommended bet is over 4.5 total goals.
Match Outcome Prediction
Despite a strong showing in their last outing, New Jersey have struggled to capitalize on home ice advantage this season. The Devils have failed to secure a regulation win in six of their last seven games at home. Meanwhile, Ottawa opened the campaign with four wins in their first five fixtures, giving the visitors every reason to believe they can come away with points. The recommended bet is Ottawa Double Chance (X2) in Regulation.
⭐️ Editor’s Prediction
New Jersey and Ottawa both know how to create chances, but their recent form suggests we shouldn’t expect a guaranteed goal fest here. In three of the Devils’ four games this season, the total has stayed under seven goals. The Senators show a similar trend-under 6.5 goals has hit in four of their last five outings. Both sides have already demonstrated they can win on the power play without turning the game into a back-and-forth shootout.
The head-to-head history also points to a moderate scoring affair. In four of their last five meetings, these clubs have failed to break the six-goal mark. Of course, New Jersey’s recent clash with Vancouver highlighted just how dangerous their power play can be at home. But you don’t need a flawless defensive display for this bet to land-even a combined six goals would be enough. Given both teams’ early-season results and the character of their previous encounters, my pick is under 6.5 total goals.
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Betting Tips: New Jersey Devils - Ottawa Senators
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