The New Jersey Devils will host the Florida Panthers on Thursday night in an important Eastern Conference matchup. The Panthers come in at 3–2 and are trying to overcome some early struggles on the road. The Devils sit at 2–1 and are dealing with uncertainty in net after the loss of Jacob Markstrom. Here, I break down this matchup from all angles and you can find my Panthers vs Devils prediction below.
Our Panthers vs Devils Pick
- Pick: Devils Moneyline
- Confidence: ★★★☆☆
Game Snapshot
- Matchup: Florida Panthers @ New Jersey Devils
- Date & Time: Thursday, October 16, 2025, 7:00 PM EDT
- Venue: Prudential Center, Newark, NJ
- Broadcast: ESPN+
Key Storylines
Recent form
The Panthers have looked like two completely different teams depending on where they are playing. Florida won their first three games of the season at home. But they have dropped two games in a row on the road and will try to avoid being dropped back to .500 for the season with a loss here.
The Devils have won two games in a row coming into this contest. But they were dealt a blow when Markstrom sustained a lower-body injury. That injury is expected to keep him out for about two weeks and that will be a concern for the Devils’ goaltending situation in the near future.
Goaltending
Markstrom’s injury will leave the Devils to lean heavily on Jake Allen and possibly Nico Daws. Markstrom had early-season struggles with an .845 save percentage and 3.89 GAA. Allen filled in for parts of the Columbus game and may be the next best option, but this is not an ideal situation for New Jersey.
Sergei Bobrovsky remains the anchor between the pipes for Florida. But Bobrovsky played for the Panthers on Wednesday night and suffered his first loss of the season against the Detroit Red Wings. If Florida doesn’t opt to play him for the second night in a row, we could see Daniil Tarasov get his second start of the year.
Key skaters
Florida’s power play is a major weapon. Through their first games, they’ve cashed in on 35.3% of opportunities, with contributions from the top and second lines. Sam Reinhart supports that top unit with consistent offensive pressure, while players like Anton Lundell and Brad Marchand have chipped in as well. Marchand has three goals and two assists, leading the defending champs with five total points.
New Jersey has been led by Jesper Bratt and Luke Hughes early in the season. They are tied for the team lead with four points apiece. Bratt has two goals and two assists, while Hughes has been a pure distributor with four assists.
Best Player Props
| Player | Stat | Line |
|---|---|---|
| Sam Reinhart (FLA) | Points | Over 0.5 |
| Jack Hughes (NJD) | Points | Over 0.5 |
| Jesper Bratt (NJD) | Goals | Over 0.5 |
Betting Trends & H2H
- The Panthers are 1-4 on the puckline heading into this game.
- New Jersey is 1-2 on the puckline early in the season.
- Florida has had three of its first five games stay under their totals.
- The Devils are 2-1 to the over through three games.
Panthers vs Devils Model Projection
Score Projection: Florida 2 – New Jersey 3
Win Probability: Florida 48%, New Jersey 52%
Final Thoughts
The rest situation for these teams should help the Devils get the win at home in this matchup. Florida is winless on the road and missing some key players, none of which will be solved by having to play for the second straight night. I’ll go with New Jersey to get the win as a favorite at home.
