The New Jersey Devils return to the ice at Prudential Center on Tuesday night with far more than two points at stake, hosting the Columbus Blue Jackets in a matchup that has quickly evolved into one of the most consequential games of the season for both clubs. Puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m. in downtown Newark, and the standings, the schedule, and the recent form of both teams all point to this contest carrying genuine playoff-race weight.

New Jersey enters the night at 28-25-2, sitting seventh in the Metropolitan Division and chasing a shrinking margin of error as the calendar pushes deeper into February. Columbus arrives just three points ahead in fourth place at 27-20-7, making this game a direct head-to-head opportunity for the Devils to cut into the gap and reassert themselves in the division picture.

For a team searching for consistency, the timing could not be more urgent.

The Devils are coming off a frustrating 4–1 loss to Ottawa on Saturday, a game that exposed many of the same offensive and special-teams issues that have lingered throughout the season. Despite controlling stretches of five-on-five play and earning multiple power-play opportunities, New Jersey struggled to generate sustained net-front pressure and high-danger chances, leaving too much of the offensive burden on perimeter shots and point attempts. The result was another night in which the scoreboard did not reflect the amount of work being put into possession and zone time.

That performance now becomes the immediate backdrop to a far different challenge.

Columbus arrives in Newark riding one of the hottest stretches in the entire league. The Blue Jackets have won five consecutive games and are 9-1-0 over their last ten, averaging close to four goals per game during that span. Their surge has vaulted them into firm contention for home-ice positioning in the first round and has turned them into one of the most difficult matchups in the Eastern Conference.

The contrast in recent form could not be sharper. Over the same ten-game window, the Devils sit at 6-4-0 and remain stuck in a season-long pattern of short bursts of success followed by costly dips in execution.

This is also a rivalry that has quietly become one of the more competitive season series in the division. New Jersey currently holds a 2-1 edge against Columbus this year, including a tightly contested 3–2 win on December 31. That victory now looms large, not only in the standings but also in the potential tiebreaker picture that could matter significantly by April.

Tuesday night’s setting in Newark provides a familiar environment for a Devils group that has often relied on home ice to stabilize its game. Prudential Center remains one of the loudest buildings in the division when the team finds momentum, and this matchup has the ingredients to quickly turn into a playoff-style atmosphere.

Statistically, the game sets up as a revealing test of identity for both clubs.

New Jersey is scoring 2.58 goals per game and allowing just over three against, numbers that reflect a team capable of playing structured, responsible hockey but one that continues to fight for offensive rhythm. Columbus, by comparison, is generating 3.19 goals per game but surrendering 3.28, leaning more heavily into tempo, transition offense, and aggressive pressure in the neutral zone.

On special teams, the Devils hold a slight edge on the penalty kill at 81.5 percent, while their power play remains below league average at 18.2 percent. Columbus brings in a slightly stronger power play at 20.1 percent but a more vulnerable penalty kill at 78.4 percent. In a game between two clubs separated by just three points in the standings, discipline and special-teams efficiency may ultimately decide the outcome.

One of the central storylines entering the night revolves around health.

Jack Hughes, the Devils’ most dynamic offensive driver and transition catalyst, is currently listed as day-to-day with a lower-body injury after missing the previous game. His availability will significantly influence how New Jersey structures its top six and its first power-play unit. Without Hughes, the Devils lose a major source of controlled zone entries and east-west puck movement, two elements that have already been inconsistent during recent games.

If Hughes is unable to go, the responsibility once again falls heavily on captain Nico Hischier, who continues to set the pace for New Jersey at both ends of the ice. Hischier leads the Devils with 18 goals and remains the team’s most reliable two-way forward, regularly tasked with the toughest defensive matchups while still carrying primary scoring expectations. His ability to push play through the middle of the ice and establish early forechecking pressure will be critical against a Columbus team that thrives on quick counterattacks.

The Blue Jackets’ offensive engine runs through Zach Werenski, who enters the game with 60 points on the season, including 19 goals and 41 assists. Werenski’s ability to activate from the blue line, create mismatches off the rush, and quarterback the power play has become one of the defining features of Columbus’ surge. The Devils’ defensive structure will need to remain disciplined, particularly when tracking late trailers and defending broken plays in the high slot.

Beyond the individual matchups, this game carries a broader message for where the Devils are headed in the second half of the season.

New Jersey remains a team built on speed, puck possession, and layered support through the neutral zone. When those elements are working in unison, the Devils can overwhelm opponents with sustained pressure and rapid puck movement. When execution slips, however, the offense becomes predictable and too easily defended, forcing low-percentage shots and rushed decisions in scoring areas.

Tuesday night provides a real-time measuring stick.

Columbus is currently one of the most confident and aggressive teams in the league. They forecheck with pace, attack off turnovers, and do not hesitate to push defensemen into the offensive zone. For the Devils, the response will need to be proactive rather than reactive. Quick puck support below the goal line, decisive breakouts, and consistent net-front traffic are not optional details in this matchup — they are structural necessities.

This game also fits squarely into a pivotal stretch of the schedule as New Jersey attempts to build momentum before the upcoming break. Every point gained or lost now directly influences the team’s margin for error down the stretch, particularly with several Metropolitan Division rivals playing well and tightening the race for playoff positioning.

For fans following the broader arc of the season, lineup decisions, injury updates, and the evolving playoff race, full ongoing coverage of the club’s journey can be found through Explore New Jersey’s complete New Jersey Devils reporting.

From a narrative standpoint, Tuesday’s contest offers clarity.

A win over a red-hot Columbus team would send a meaningful signal that the Devils can still rise to the level of elite competition when urgency peaks. A loss would deepen the pressure surrounding an offense that has struggled to consistently finish and a special-teams unit that has too often failed to tilt games in New Jersey’s favor.

In a division where separation is measured in single points rather than comfortable gaps, the Devils do not simply need a response after Saturday’s loss — they need a statement. And with the Blue Jackets standing directly in their path, that statement must be delivered in real time, on home ice, against one of the most confident teams in the Eastern Conference.