New Jersey Devils vs Edmonton Oilers Picks and Predictions March 13th 2025

Devils Look to Stay Hot as They Host Slumping Oilers

The New Jersey Devils are hitting their stride at the right time, shaking off a three-game skid with back-to-back wins. Now, they’ll look to make it three straight when they host the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday night in Newark, N.J.

Meanwhile, the Oilers are reeling, having dropped seven of their last 10 games. Despite big performances from Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid, Edmonton continues to struggle with turnovers and defensive lapses.

With playoff positioning on the line, both teams will be eager to grab two crucial points.

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Devils Finding Their Groove at the Right Time

After losing three straight, the Devils have responded with back-to-back wins:

• 3-1 vs. Philadelphia (road)
• 5-3 vs. Columbus (home)

Forward Timo Meier, who scored in the Columbus win, emphasized that the team has shifted into a playoff mindset.

“Playoff mentality, that’s how we have to approach games,” Meier said. “This definitely feels good, but now we have to build on this win.”

Skate to Victory

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Key Players Leading the Devils’ Surge

• Jesper Bratt (goal, two assists vs. Columbus)
• Luke Hughes (goal, assist vs. Columbus)
• Nico Hischier, Paul Cotter, Timo Meier (each scored Tuesday)
• Cody Glass (two assists Tuesday, goal in Devils debut Sunday)

Head coach Sheldon Keefe praised Glass, acquired before the trade deadline, for his high hockey IQ and ability to make quick decisions.

“He’s a really smart player, constantly scanning the ice,” Keefe said. “He’s fit in well from a personality standpoint, too.”

The Devils already shut out Edmonton 3-0 in their previous meeting this season on Nov. 4, with Jake Allen stopping all 31 shots. In that game, both Bratt and Meier scored, while McDavid was out with an ankle injury.

Oilers Searching for Answers After Recent Struggles

Despite boasting two of the NHL’s biggest stars, the Oilers have lost seven of their last 10 games, including a 3-2 loss to Buffalo on Monday.

Defenseman Darnell Nurse admitted the team has not been executing well enough.

“We’re at a point in the year where results matter, but we need to stay level-headed and play our game,” Nurse said.

Head coach Kris Knoblauch didn’t sugarcoat the problem:

“Turnovers. We controlled most of the play, had a lot of offensive zone time, but we made costly mistakes,” Knoblauch said. “Those turnovers led to rush chances against us.”

Bright Spots for Edmonton

• Leon Draisaitl (NHL-leading 46 goals) extended his career-best point streak to 15 games (11 goals, 12 assists).
• Connor McDavid (58 assists, club-best) has an eight-game point streak (two goals, nine assists).
• Evan Bouchard (three goals, three assists in his last five games) continues to produce from the blue line.

However, offensive production means little if the Oilers can’t clean up their defensive issues.

Key Matchups to Watch

Devils’ Offense vs. Oilers’ Turnovers

• New Jersey has capitalized on opponent mistakes, and Edmonton has been giving the puck away too often. If the Devils stay aggressive on the forecheck, they can force Edmonton into costly errors.

Draisaitl & McDavid vs. Devils’ Defense

• McDavid missed the first meeting between these teams, and his speed and vision will present a bigger challenge this time around.
• Draisaitl is scoring at an elite pace, and if he gets space on the power play, he can take over the game.

Goaltending Battle

• The Devils will likely go back to Jake Allen, who blanked the Oilers in November.
• The Oilers have rotated between Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard, but neither has been consistent enough during their recent struggles.

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Final Thoughts: Can the Oilers Turn It Around?

The Devils have momentum, but the Oilers are desperate to end their slide.

• New Jersey is playing with a playoff mentality and tightening up defensively.
• Edmonton must limit turnovers and find a way to protect its own net.

Can McDavid and Draisaitl carry the Oilers to a much-needed win, or will the Devils stay hot and push their streak to three?

Puck drops Thursday night in Newark.

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