New Jersey Devils vs Tampa Bay Lightning Prediction, Odds and Picks for Today, 11/18/25

The New Jersey Devils enter Tuesday’s matchup against the Tampa Bay Lightning without their star center. Jack Hughes suffered a “freak injury” at a team dinner last week and underwent surgery on his finger. He will be sidelined for at least 8 weeks, which is a colossal blow to the Devils. Hughes was on fire with 10 goals and 10 assists for 20 points through 17 games this season. New Jersey currently ranks 7th in the league scoring 3.28 goals per game, but it wouldn’t be surprising to see that number start to dip in Hughes’ absence.

On the other side, the Lightning are off to a relatively slow start offensively in 2025. Tampa’s lack of power play success has really hindered their ability to get rolling, as they rank 29th in the NHL with a power play percentage of 15.3%. New Jersey has been great killing penalties, owning the 5th-best PK in the league at 84.9%. With major firepower missing with Hughes sidelined, look for New Jersey to play a more structured defensive game in front of goaltender Jacob Markstrom. All in all, scoring chances could be at a premium for both teams in this one. Look to the under.

Devils vs Lightning prediction: Under 5.5 (+110) available at time of publishing. Playable at that number.

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