New Jersey Devils vs Colorado Avalanche Picks, Prediction, Odds, and Line Movement for Wednesday October 28 2026

New Jersey travels to Ball Arena for a 9 p.m. ET meeting with Colorado on Wednesday, renewing a matchup that the Devils won 4-3 in Newark eight days earlier. New Jersey has climbed to 8-4-0 on the strength of four consecutive victories. Colorado is 6-5-1 and looking for a response after a difficult road stretch, but the Avalanche have a useful scheduling edge: the Devils played in Dallas on Tuesday and must handle another high-tempo opponent less than 24 hours later.

The Devils made a statement with a 5-1 victory against the Stars in Connor Hellebuyck’s New Jersey debut. Hellebuyck will not start this game, however. Jake Allen gets the assignment against his former club’s Western Conference rival, with Mackenzie Blackwood set for Colorado. This is a rematch with substantial differences in rest and the crease.

Colorado has been favored on the moneyline, though available quotes have not been uniform. An earlier public comparison placed the Avalanche around -138, while one BetUS board has listed Colorado -140 and other operators have moved into the -170 to -185 range. That spread is large enough to change the quality of the wager. A bettor finding -140 has a materially better proposition than one accepting -180 for the same result.

The total has generally been 6.5, with several books pricing both sides close to even money. The rematch finished with seven goals, and both teams are capable of another offensive game, but the total is less appealing than a carefully priced Colorado moneyline. New Jersey’s chance quality can keep this competitive, and laying 1.5 goals against the Devils would ask too much given how well they have played lately.

New Jersey is not merely riding a fortunate streak. Jack Hughes leads a dangerous forward group alongside Jesper Bratt, Nico Hischier and Timo Meier, while the Devils have generated strong underlying five-on-five play. The Stars managed very little offense Tuesday, and New Jersey’s ability to establish puck possession has become a major part of its recent success.

Allen also has direct evidence that he can handle this matchup, having made 31 saves in New Jersey’s victory over Colorado last week. The challenge is the travel-and-rest spot rather than an absence of talent. After protecting a lead in Dallas, the Devils must confront Nathan MacKinnon’s pace at altitude. Hellebuyck’s arrival improves the roster over the longer term, but the new acquisition will be resting after his debut instead of providing a second consecutive start.

Colorado has struggled to string together wins, including a 1-3-0 stretch entering Wednesday. That weakness deserves attention rather than being ignored because of the team’s famous top-end talent. MacKinnon, Martin Necas and Cale Makar still make the Avalanche dangerous whenever they can force opponents to defend with speed, but the club needs cleaner defensive coverage to avoid another one-goal loss.

Nic Roy is expected back in the lineup, allowing Colorado to rebalance its center depth and move Nazem Kadri into a third-line role. Blackwood is confirmed in net and has been a bright spot during recent starts. A more balanced forward group and a defined starting goalie give Colorado greater stability than it showed on the road, especially facing a Devils team playing its second game in two nights.

New Jersey’s best path is to repeat its aggressive forechecking from last week, using puck pressure to force Colorado to defend rather than race up the ice. The Avalanche need to move the puck through the neutral zone before the Devils can establish their structure. When MacKinnon and Necas enter with speed, New Jersey’s tired defenders could face difficult choices about protecting the rush or the late trailer.

Allen has the ability to steal the game, and the Devils’ four-game winning run makes them dangerous even on short rest. Colorado’s advantage is narrower than a lopsided favorite price would suggest. At a manageable number, though, the home team’s rest, improved lineup depth and confirmed starter make the Avalanche the preferred side.

Colorado Avalanche moneyline at -150 or better, with -140 appearing on a BetUS comparison board. The Avalanche benefit from home ice and a fresh lineup against New Jersey’s back-to-back, while Blackwood supplies a credible answer in goal. This is a price-sensitive pick: a drift toward -175 or -185 would remove much of the appeal even if Colorado remains the projected winner.

Colorado Avalanche 4, New Jersey Devils 3. The Devils have enough offensive talent to make this close, but a rested Avalanche lineup can find the decisive chance late.