New York Rangers vs New Jersey Devils: match prediction on 25 September 2026

Devils win away at the Rangers. New Jersey's momentum carries them past a struggling home side on 24 September, with the visitors' four victories in five matches contrasting sharply against New York's winless run of four defeats. The model expects goals at both ends—3.1 for the hosts, 2.7 for the visitors—but the Devils' recent superiority in head-to-head encounters and current form tips the balance.

Devils take the points

The Devils arrive with 12 points from their last five games, having won four of them. Their only setback came against Boston with a 0-4 defeat away, but they responded immediately with victories over Ottawa 4-3 and Detroit 5-3. The Rangers sit on just 3 points from the same period, their lone win coming against Tampa Bay 4-2 in April, followed by losses to Dallas 0-2 and Florida 2-3. The goal difference tells the story: New Jersey have scored 14 while conceding 13; New York have netted 11 but let in 14.

Recent meetings between these rivals favour the visitors. In the last five encounters, the Devils have won three times—3-2 away in September, 6-3 at home in March, and 3-1 at Madison Square Garden in October 2025. The Rangers managed only two victories: 4-1 at home in March and 5-3 away in September 2025. The most recent clash on 21 September saw New Jersey edge them 3-2, a result that followed the Devils' immediate response to their Boston defeat. Across 30 matches in recent years, the Devils hold a 17-13 advantage.

Adam Sikora's absence weighs on New York's forward options. The Rangers forward is out for 4-5 months with a lower-body injury, removing depth from an attack that has struggled to find rhythm. The model's expectation of 3.1 goals for the hosts reflects their historical output rather than current form, and the 90% probability that both teams score suggests the Devils will find the net despite playing away. The Rangers' recent record shows they concede regularly, having lost four of five matches while scoring in only three of those games.

A draw would suit neither side's current trajectory, but the 18% probability aligns with the model's expectation of a high-scoring affair. The 93% chance of three or more goals supports the view that this will be open, and the Devils' tendency to attack after setbacks—evident in their responses to the Boston defeat—suggests they will not settle for a point. Unless New York find their feet at home or the Rangers recover form unexpectedly; given their last home game lost 3-4 to the Islanders, that seems unlikely.

Confidence: 62%