First period
Jack Hughes is listed out with a finger injury, and that absence concentrates New Jersey’s top-end creation onto healthy forwards like Jesper Bratt, Nico Hischier, and Timo Meier.
Brett Pesce is listed out on long-term injured reserve with an upper-body issue, and
Johnathan Kovacevic is also out on long-term injured reserve with a knee injury, which puts more of the blue-line workload on
Dougie Hamilton,
Luke Hughes,
Jonas Siegenthaler, and
Simon Nemec.
With
Jake Allen and
Jacob Markstrom both available in goal, New Jersey’s pregame handicap often comes down to which Devils goalie gets the start and how that choice influences early puckline and first-period odds.
The Canadiens hold home ice as Montreal, and the Devils arrive as the away side, which commonly bakes a small home-ice tax into the opening moneyline and the first-period line.
New Jersey Devils vs
Montreal Canadiens betting insights start with the injury report facts that show New Jersey missing Hughes, Pesce,
Marc McLaughlin, and
Zack MacEwen, which can nudge early-period totals and player props toward Bratt, Hischier, and Meier usage.
Second period
Jack Hughes being out is a concrete reason bettors often expect New Jersey to lean harder on structured puck management through Hischier’s line and on Hamilton’s minutes, which can show up in live betting swings if the Devils protect the middle of the ice.
Pesce’s long-term absence is a continuing personnel constraint, and that reality can move in-game totals if Montreal generates extended zone time against New Jersey’s remaining right-side defense options.
Because both ESPN+ and MSGSN are carrying the game, wider viewership typically increases same-game parlay volume around midgame markets like second-period moneyline and second-period total goals.
New Jersey Devils vs Montreal Canadiens betting trends frequently track how a team handles the second period’s long change, and New Jersey’s available defense group anchored by Hamilton and Siegenthaler is central to that matchup detail.
Third period
If the Devils are in a tight game late, the available finishing wings—Bratt, Meier, and Dawson Mercer—are the healthy names most directly tied to late goal scorer markets, while Hughes’ out status removes a common late-game prop option.
If the game state is one-goal either way, the presence of two healthy goaltenders—Allen and Markstrom—keeps New Jersey’s late-game win probability tied closely to the confirmed starter and any in-game momentum that shapes the live odds.
New Jersey Devils vs Montreal Canadiens score prediction: Devils 3, Canadiens 2.
NHL betting preview New Jersey Devils vs Montreal Canadiens centers on Montreal hosting at the Bell Centre and New Jersey traveling in with multiple skaters listed out, which is the type of lineup context that can explain a late moneyline shift once starting goalie news or lineup confirmations post.
Injury designations for Jack Hughes (out), Brett Pesce (out, long-term injured reserve), Marc McLaughlin (out), Zack MacEwen (out), and Johnathan Kovacevic (out, long-term injured reserve) are the concrete roster factors most likely to influence any late movement in puckline odds, total goals, and Devils player props tied to Bratt, Hischier, Meier, and Hamilton.
The Devils and Canadiens are scheduled for April 5, 2026 at 7:00 PM ET at Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec, and fans can watch on ESPN+ and MSGSN.
Track the confirmed starter and any late scratches before you lock in your picks, and share this article with fellow Devils fans and bettors looking for one more edge.
