The New Jersey Devils entered Sunday afternoon at Prudential Center hoping to build real momentum for the first time in weeks. Instead, a familiar script unfolded. Despite controlling large portions of play and limiting the Vancouver Canucks to just 15 shots on goal, the Devils skated off with a frustrating 2–1 defeat that underscored ongoing issues with finishing, special teams, and goaltending consistency.
This was a game the Devils largely dictated. It just wasn’t one they were able to close.
New Jersey came in battered and shorthanded, continuing to navigate a lengthy injury list that has reshaped both the lineup and nightly expectations. Jack Hughes remains sidelined following finger surgery, Timo Meier is away from the team tending to a family health matter, and several other regulars—including Simon Nemec, Arseny Gritsyuk, Brett Pesce, Johnathan Kovacevic, and Evgenii Dadonov—are unavailable. The result has been a roster leaning heavily on its core, with little margin for error.
Against Vancouver, that margin disappeared early.
The Canucks struck just over a minute into the game on a power-play sequence that should have been manageable. Defensive coverage broke down, rebound control faltered, and Jake DeBrusk capitalized on a second opportunity in tight. It was a goal that felt preventable and immediately set the tone. While the Devils would settle in afterward and largely smother Vancouver at five-on-five, the damage was already done.
New Jersey’s second concession came later on the penalty kill in an even more deflating fashion. What began as a harmless-looking centering attempt ended up redirected into the Devils’ own net, a sequence emblematic of a penalty kill that has unraveled after a strong early-season start. Vancouver entered the afternoon with one of the league’s weaker power plays, yet still found a way to convert when it mattered.
At the other end of the ice, Thatcher Demko was the difference. The Devils generated quality chances, particularly at even strength, but Demko consistently erased them. He turned aside every high-danger opportunity New Jersey produced and remained composed through sustained pressure. Jacob Markstrom, by comparison, faced minimal volume and still surrendered two goals, continuing a troubling trend during his recent run of starts.
Statistically, the imbalance was glaring. The Devils finished with nearly double the expected goals and controlled the shot-share decisively, especially when Nico Hischier’s line was on the ice. The trio of Hischier, Jesper Bratt, and Dawson Mercer dominated possession, creating the majority of New Jersey’s five-on-five scoring chances and keeping Vancouver pinned for long stretches. Luke Hughes, skating with confidence and poise, provided the lone Devils goal with a blistering shot that briefly reignited the building.
That push, however, never materialized into an equalizer.
Special teams again told the story. New Jersey failed to capitalize on extended power-play time, including a lengthy five-on-three advantage in the opening period. Puck movement was predictable, shooting lanes were rarely challenged, and traffic in front of the net was inconsistent. Against a penalty kill that has struggled throughout the season, the Devils made life easy for the opposing goaltender.
There is no single fix for what continues to ail this team, but the themes are becoming impossible to ignore. At five-on-five, the Devils can control games. They skate well, defend responsibly, and generate enough chances to win. The breakdowns arrive in goal and on special teams, areas where execution must be cleaner and confidence more consistent.
The loss dropped New Jersey to 3–7 over its last ten games and extended a difficult stretch at home after an encouraging start to the season. General manager Tom Fitzgerald now faces increasing scrutiny, not only for roster depth but also for how long the team can continue down this path without adjustments. Whether that means changes in net, lineup usage, or roles remains to be seen, but patience is wearing thin.
The Devils will need answers quickly. With injuries unlikely to resolve overnight, the solutions must come from within the existing group. Better discipline, sharper execution on the power play, and reliable goaltending are no longer luxuries—they are necessities.
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