New Jersey Devils vs Ottawa Senators prediction: Ottawa Senators narrow favourites at 54.9%
Ottawa sit fifth in the standings after four games while New Jersey occupy 26th, and the probabilities tilt toward the visitors at Prudential Center.
Ottawa Senators carry the stronger recent record into this NHL fixture at Prudential Center. They hold third place in the division after a 3-1-0 start, whereas the Devils sit 26th overall following their 1-2-0 opening.
Records and recent sequences
The Senators have collected four wins from their last five outings. Their latest result was a victory that kept them among the early pace-setters. New Jersey have managed only two wins in the same span and enter on the back of a defeat.
Those sequences reflect the difference in points accumulated so far this season. Ottawa’s 3-1-0 mark places them ahead of most clubs, while New Jersey’s position near the foot of the table stems directly from their slower start. The form lines therefore point in opposite directions without overlap.
Line-ups and availability
Line-ups remain unconfirmed at this stage. No confirmed absences or selection details have emerged ahead of the scheduled puck drop.
That leaves the projected outcome dependent on the season records and recent results rather than specific personnel changes. Both sides will field their expected rosters based on the limited information available.
Where the numbers place the contest
Our probabilities give Ottawa a 58.7 per cent chance of victory and New Jersey 41.3 per cent. The projection therefore marks the Senators as slight favourites on the road. No draw probability registers in the model output.
Expected-goal estimates align with that lean. Ottawa’s higher win rate in the last five games supports the edge, while New Jersey’s lower standing and form combine to cap their projected output. Bookmaker lines are not directly compared here, yet the internal figures place the away side ahead by a clear margin.
Final assessment
Ottawa Senators to win at 58.7 per cent . Their superior season record after four matches supplies the clearest weight behind the pick. The main way the result turns is if New Jersey convert early chances and exploit any lapses in Ottawa’s defensive structure. The goals markets add little deviation, with the projection favouring a low-scoring game that still tilts toward the visitors.
Reporting referenced: Yahoo Sports, talkSPORT, Yahoo Sports, Yahoo Sports, Yahoo Sports, Yahoo Sports.
Team news
- NHL Tonight: Previews, stats, betting info for Saturday's 14 games — It's a typically massive slate, from 1 p.m. ET all the way through two 10 p.m. starts. Get prepared here. (ESPN, 2026-10-10)
- Senators' Eklund out for 'extended' period with ankle injury — Senators forward William Eklund, who left Thursday's win over the Flyers after taking a hit, will miss an "extended" period of time with an ankle injury. (ESPN, 2026-10-10)
- NHL breakout tiers: Top players ready to level up in 2026-27 — From players with new linemates to young stars set to hit superstardom to enticing rookies, watch out for this group. (ESPN, 2026-10-09)
- NHL Power Rankings: Each team's NHL Rank representatives — It's the first regular-season update of our 1-32 poll. Plus, how many players did each team land among the Top 100? (ESPN, 2026-10-09)
- NHL Tonight: Previews and betting info for all 10 of Thursday's games — From the six 7 p.m. matchups all the way through Maple Leafs-Golden Knights at 10, here's what to watch. (ESPN, 2026-10-08)
- Wysh List: What NHL execs think of ESPN's top 100 player rankings — Who was too high or too low according to actual team personnel and players? Plus, winners and losers of the week, key upcoming games and more. (ESPN, 2026-10-08)