Columbus Blue Jackets at New Jersey Devils NHL Predictions

2026-02-03 • Prudential Center

New Jersey Devils 0 - 3 Columbus Blue Jackets

🚨 Upset Loss (56% underdog)

📊 Pre-Game Predictions

Win Probability

NJD: 55.8%

CBJ: 44.2%

Expected Goals

NJD: 3.27

CBJ: 3.02

Total Goals

Median: 6.1

Over 5.5: 60%

Over 6.5: 42%

🥅 Goalie Matchup

NJD

Jacob Markstrom - 9-9-1 | 0.884 SV% | 3.32 GAA

CBJ

Elvis Merzlikins - 6-6-1 | 0.877 SV% | 4.04 GAA

Stat	NJD	CBJ
Season SV%	0.884	0.877
Last 5 SV%	—	—
SV% vs Opponent	—	—
GAA	3.32	4.04

Last 5 / vs opponent shown when available in goalie stats. Confirmed goalie row used when available; otherwise current projected starter is shown.

Goalie Game Metrics

Team	Goalie	SA	Saves	GA	SV%	xGA	HD Faced	GSAx
NJD	Jacob Markstrom	26	23	3	88.5%	3.14	2	0.14
CBJ	Elvis Merzlikins	24	24	0	100.0%	2.39	1	2.39

SA uses shots on goal plus goals. xGA, high-danger faced, and GSAx use modeled scoring attempts against. GSAx is xGA minus goals against.

Head-to-Head History

Model accuracy in this matchup: 45% • NJD at home vs CBJ: 2-3

Date	Score	Winner	Model Pick
2026-02-03	NJD 0 - 3 CBJ	CBJ	NJD
2025-12-31	CBJ 2 - 3 NJD	NJD	CBJ
2025-12-01	NJD 3 - 5 CBJ	CBJ	NJD
2025-10-13	CBJ 2 - 3 NJD	NJD	CBJ
2025-03-17	CBJ 1 - 2 NJD	NJD	NJD

Shot Quality by Period

Period	Team	Shots	High Danger	xG
1	NJD	13	0	0.77
1	CBJ	6	0	0.29
2	NJD	15	1	1.10
2	CBJ	15	1	1.13
3	NJD	10	0	0.52
3	CBJ	16	1	1.72

Shots are modeled attempts: shots on goal, goals, and missed shots. Blocked shots are excluded. High danger is xG >= 0.20.

🎯 Shot Chart

📈 Post-Game Analysis

Prediction Result

❌ Incorrect

Confidence: 55.8%

Total Goals

Actual: 3.0

Expected: 6.3

Score Breakdown