Devils Edge Out Kings in Low-Scoring Standalone Matchup on New Year’s Day

New Years Day kicks off 2025 with a standalone matchup between two elite teams in rematch of the 2012 Stanley Cup Finals between the New Jersey Devils and the LA Kings. Both teams are near the top of their respective conferences 13 years later and should excite all hockey fans looking to start their year off on the right note with a couple winning picks.

We look to build off an easy win on the over in goals during the Winter Classic on Tuesday and hope the build on it towards a winning streak.

All betting lines are from Bet365 and are subject to change. Hockey is a difficult sport to predict so please gamble responsibly.

Bet: Devils Kings Under 5.5 goals (+105), Devils ML (-120)

The Kings have been almost unstoppable at home with a 12-2-1 record which is thanks to their elite defensive structure that has the second-best home goals against average at 2.13 this season.

The only problem is it may be starting to fade with seven goals allowed in their last two home games which could open the door for a Devils team that has one of the best offences in the league with a 3.32 goals per road game average.

This may push people to think we can expect a high-scoring affair but the Devils are also elite on the defensive end with a 2.47 road goals against average, which is tied with the Wild for best in the NHL.

I believe one side will come up with a defensive plan to limit the other and should hold this game to a very tight score with the Devils edging out the Kings as an upset and rebounding after losing two straight.