Utah Mammoth vs New Jersey Devils Pick & Prediction for Saturday January 3, 2026
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The Utah Mammoth (19-19-3) continue their road swing with a visit to Newark to face the New Jersey Devils (21-17-2) on Saturday, January 3, 2026, with puck drop scheduled for 3:00 PM ET at the Prudential Center. This matchup has a bit of recent history, as these teams met just before Christmas in Utah, where New Jersey escaped with a narrow 2–1 win. If you’re building out your card for the afternoon slate, you can always check out free NHL picks.
Utah Mammoth: Momentum-building road team with scoring punch
Utah enters this game sitting right at the .500 mark, but their underlying play has been better than their record suggests. The Mammoth are scoring 2.98 goals per game while allowing 2.90, and they’ve been particularly dangerous when their top line gets going. That was on full display in their most recent outing, a dominant 7–2 road win over the Islanders, which showed just how high their offensive ceiling can be.
Much of that attack runs through Dylan Guenther, who leads the team with 36 points (20 goals), and Clayton Keller, whose 23 assists drive Utah’s puck movement on the power play. Speaking of special teams, the Mammoth’s power play has struggled at times (15.4%), but when it clicks, it can overwhelm opponents quickly—especially on the road where Utah tends to play faster and looser.
In goal, Karel Vejmelka (2.70 GAA, .896 SV%) has been steady and gives Utah a chance most nights. He’s clearly the more reliable option compared to Vitek Vanecek, and if Vejmelka gets the start, Utah’s defensive structure becomes much more trustworthy, particularly against a Devils team that hasn’t been lighting up the scoreboard.
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New Jersey Devils: Home ice helps, but consistency is lacking
New Jersey has been a tough team to figure out this season. The Devils are solid at home (10-7-2), yet they’ve dropped four of their last five overall, with offensive output being the biggest concern. They’re averaging just 2.65 goals per game, one of the lower marks among playoff-hopeful teams, and too many of their recent losses have come in one-goal or grind-it-out games where finishing chances were limited.
Offensively, Nico Hischier (31 points) and Jesper Bratt (23 assists) remain the engine, but New Jersey often struggles to generate secondary scoring. That puts pressure on the defence and goaltending to be nearly perfect, something that hasn’t always happened this season.
Between the pipes, the Devils are better positioned if Jake Allen (2.52 GAA, .912 SV%) gets the nod. His numbers are clearly stronger than Jacob Markstrom’s, and against a Utah team that likes to push pace, Allen’s ability to control rebounds and limit second chances could be crucial. The Devils’ penalty kill (76.4%) has been average, which is another area where Utah could exploit small advantages.
Points to Consider
This matchup profiles as closer than the records might suggest. Utah has already shown they can hang with New Jersey, losing 2–1 in their previous meeting, and the Mammoth appear to be trending upward offensively. New Jersey, meanwhile, relies heavily on structure and goaltending, especially at home.
Shot volume also leans slightly in Utah’s favour defensively, as the Mammoth allow just 25.1 shots per game, which could frustrate a Devils team that already struggles to convert chances into goals.
Mammoth vs Devils Prediction
From a betting standpoint, this game sets up nicely for the underdog.
- Moneyline: I’m leaning toward Utah Mammoth as a live underdog. They’re playing with more confidence right now, they just exploded offensively on the road, and they’ve already proven they can keep this matchup tight.
- Puck Line: Utah +1.5 feels very strong. Even if New Jersey wins, their recent games suggest another one-goal decision.
- Total: I lean Under. New Jersey plays slower at home, Utah’s defence limits shots well, and their last meeting stayed low-scoring.
Utah’s recent form and shot suppression give them real upset potential here. Make sure you know about how the fans are looking on prediction markets for the Mammoth with the Thrillz promo code. Make the most of your bets on the Devils by using the sportsbook promos. Make sure when you place your Mammoth vs Devils bet you are using the bet365 bonus code.
Final Score Prediction
Utah Mammoth 3, New Jersey Devils 2
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