The New Jersey Devils officially have higher odds to win the draft lottery as opposed to making the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
A 3-1 regulation loss to the New York Islanders on Thursday all but sank their 2025-26 season.
In a week where the Devils had four crucial points on the table, points that could have given them a fighting chance, they walked away with none.
Now, seven Devils will fly to Milan to participate in the 2026 Winter Olympics. As for the rest of New Jersey, their three-week break just began.
Will some rest and recovery for most of the roster fix the fact that this is a team that cannot score? Considering their best players are all about to play some of the most intense hockey they will all season in Milan, it’s reasonable to think that might not happen.
Thursday night was a shame. In all honesty, the Devils probably deserved to win the game. Yet, as most nights hvae gone since the end of October, the New Jersey simply couldn’t finish.
Let’s get into some observations
Observations
- The Devils threw 24 shots on Ilya Sorokin, opposed to the Islanders 14 shots. They held New York to just seven shots through the first 40 minutes. Yet, in the third, they lost the scoring chance differential 10-3, which allowed the Islanders to win the third period 2-0.
- The Devils are now 9-8-1 when tied going into the third period.
- The Devils very well may have no luck at all. After Ondrej Palat nearly scored on his former team by hitting the post in the first period, Dawson Mercer likewise rang the iron in the ensuing sequence in response. Shortly after Mercer’s near-goal, Dougie Hamilton rang the crossbar in a prime scoring opportunity. The Devils struggle so hard to find scoring opportunities, and when they finally get one, they just can’t find a way to finish.
- It was a much better debut for Nick Bjugstad in his first game for the Devils as opposed to Maxim Tsyplakov‘s last week. He was as advertised. A BIG body, but a smooth skater who builds speed in stride. He was unafraid to use the body registering three hits, and showed a bit of offensive flare. In fact, I think he even elevated Tsyplakov and Paul Cotter’s game a bit. It’s probably the best showing I’ve seen in a while for the Devils’ fourth line, who slightly lost the scoring chance battle 3-4.
- The Bo Horvat goal was just inexcusible defense by Johnathan Kovacevic. Nico Hischier wins the faceoff and all Kovacevic has to do is move the puck up ice. Instead, Horvat outmuscled him in the left circle, stealing the puck off his tape and beat Jake Allen’s pokecheck for the game winner. Just a brutal look.
- I’ve been seeing all the chatter from fans online about whether or not the Devils could trade Hischier. I think that’s silly. He’s perhaps the only one who is showing up for New Jersey. He’s typically the one who is stepping up in the absence of Jack Hughes as well. He did it again on Thursday, scoring the Devils’ only goal, which is his 19th of the season, and five more than the next leading scorer (Timo Meier, 14).
- This team needs a drastic overhaul. I’ve said it several times. It’s time to look at the core and consider doing something drastic. Four seasons of the core have proven it’s not working. Time for change. And no, I wouldn’t move Hischier. More on a potential shake-up here.
