New Jersey Devils vs Detroit Red Wings Picks, Prediction, Odds, and Line Movement for Tuesday October 13 2026

Detroit and New Jersey open Tuesday's 16-game NHL program at Little Caesars Arena with neither club content with its first week. The Devils arrive 2-3-0 after losing 4-1 to Ottawa on Monday, while Detroit is 1-3-1 and still searching for sustained defensive structure. This is nearly a pick'em market, but the split between a rested home team and an opponent completing a back-to-back matters more than a simple comparison of early records.

New Jersey's problem has not been a lack of names capable of creating offense. Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt give the second unit skill, Nico Hischier centers Timo Meier and Luke Evangelista, and Luke Hughes and Dougie Hamilton can join attacks from the blue line. The Devils have nonetheless struggled to translate sustained pressure into enough goals. Monday's defeat to the Senators demonstrated that winning more of the puck battles is not sufficient if the final pass is intercepted or the first shot fails to generate a rebound.

Detroit's roster has its own unsettled story, but the top line of Viktor Arvidsson, Dylan Larkin and Lucas Raymond can punish teams trying to force offense through the middle. Alex DeBrincat has five points in five games and offers a finishing threat on the second unit. Moritz Seider is carrying major minutes, with Justin Faulk giving Detroit another veteran puck mover. Detroit is not being backed because of a dominant start; its home ice and rest give it a comparatively favorable opportunity to stabilize.

John Gibson heads Detroit's projected goaltending depth chart, with Daniil Tarasov available behind him. The Devils list Nico Daws ahead of Jake Allen, although a lineup listing is not the same as a final starter confirmation. New Jersey is missing Connor Brown, Johnathan Kovacevic and Nick Bjugstad. Detroit is without Marco Kasper, J.T. Compher and Mason Appleton. Lucas Raymond and Faulk returned to the ice Tuesday after maintenance absences and are expected to play, avoiding two additional losses for the home side.

The first period should tell us whether the Devils can dictate the pace after playing the previous evening. When their defenders step up into the neutral zone, Hughes can receive pucks in dangerous areas, but the same aggressive support leaves openings behind the play. Detroit can exploit those openings with Raymond and Larkin, especially if its forwards turn defensive-zone recoveries into short, direct exits. Neither team has defended cleanly enough to justify expecting a shutout, and both have players who can alter the score with a single rush.

There is also an important distinction between New Jersey's skill on the puck and its ability to control the pace after a quick turnaround. The Devils have enough playmakers to create a spectacular individual sequence, yet they must sustain that quality through the third period. Detroit should use shorter shifts and play a more direct game when the visiting defense looks tired. If the home club attempts to match New Jersey with overly ambitious passing across its own zone, the schedule advantage disappears almost immediately. The Red Wings must earn it with simple decisions.

The posted full-game total of six suggests a relatively normal scoring expectation despite the two clubs' shaky records. The moneyline has been much more revealing: earlier prices had Detroit -106 and New Jersey -104, while a later sportsbook quote showed Detroit -115 and New Jersey -105. That modest drift toward the Red Wings is understandable with the rest mismatch, but it has not yet pushed the price into an unappealing favorite range. The home team needs only a narrow advantage for the wager to make sense.

The biggest risk is overvaluing a schedule advantage when New Jersey's top-end forwards are capable of controlling long stretches. Detroit could spend too much time defending if its young secondary lines cannot get out of their zone cleanly, particularly with several forwards unavailable. Gibson also needs to deliver steady rebound control against a club that keeps its defensemen involved. A close game is much likelier than a comfortable Detroit win; the recommendation depends on the home team finishing its best chances instead of treating those chances as guaranteed.

Detroit gets the slight nod because of its rest, the availability of Raymond and Faulk, and a price that still reflects how inconsistent both teams have been. A 3-2 result fits a game where neither offense owns a decisive advantage but the home team can exploit one tired defensive change late. This is a moneyline play rather than a puck-line situation. The back-to-back is the differentiator, not a claim that Detroit has suddenly solved all of its early problems.