The New Jersey Devils finally found the spark they needed, grinding out a 4-3 win over the Ottawa Senators to put an end to a difficult five-game slump. At 17-12-1, the Devils remain on the edge of the Eastern Conference playoff mix, sitting 11th in the standings as they work through injuries, uneven scoring and the growing pressure of a season that has tested their depth at every level. For fans tracking every shift, goal and roster update across the New Jersey Devils landscape, this victory represented a crucial reset heading into a challenging week.
New Jersey’s long-awaited breakthrough in Ottawa was fueled by a third-period push that showcased the team’s resilience. Cody Glass delivered the decisive goal, a timely tiebreaker that capped off one of the club’s most complete periods in recent weeks. Arseny Gritsyuk and Simon Nemec also added key contributions—Gritsyuk flashing his finishing touch and Nemec continuing to grow into his expanded responsibilities on the blue line. The win did more than snap a skid; it allowed the Devils to prove they can still manufacture offense in high-pressure moments, something that had eluded them throughout their losing streak.
The next test comes quickly. New Jersey returns to the Prudential Center for a Thursday night matchup against the Tampa Bay Lightning, their third meeting of the season. Tampa Bay dominated the previous contest with a 5-1 victory, exposing defensive lapses and exploiting New Jersey’s depleted roster. This rematch offers the Devils a chance to respond on home ice—and to keep the momentum from Ottawa alive—while continuing to navigate a roster stretched thin by long-term injuries.
For the first time in several games, the Devils enter a matchup without any new additions to their injury list. Unfortunately, the long-term injuries remain a major storyline shaping the season’s trajectory. Jack Hughes continues his recovery from November finger surgery. Although he has returned to the ice and resumed limited skating, he is still unable to hold a stick, keeping his projected return in the mid-January range. Defensive stability also remains compromised as Brett Pesce and Johnathan Kovacevic remain on long-term injured reserve, with upper-body and knee injuries, respectively, expected to keep them out until at least January. Offensive depth has also been thinned by injuries to Evgenii Dadonov, Zack MacEwen and Marc McLaughlin, all of whom remain sidelined.
With so much cap space tied up in injured reserve and few short-term contracts available to move, the Devils remain in a tight financial position. The team continues to operate in what management has referred to as a “dollar in, dollar out” environment, meaning any trade acquisition requires an equivalent salary going the other way. This constraint has only intensified speculation surrounding potential deals, with the Devils reportedly connected to conversations around defense and high-impact forwards—including chatter about Quinn Hughes, though such a move would require significant maneuvering.
Beyond Newark, the Devils’ organizational depth received attention over the weekend with standout performances from the Utica Comets. After enduring their own streak of tough outings, Utica delivered one of their strongest games of the season on Friday, rolling to a 5-1 victory over the Bridgeport Islanders. Goaltender Jakub Malek was sharp, stopping 30 of 31 shots to earn his first AHL win of the year following a stint in the ECHL. The night also featured contributions from top prospects Lenni Hameenaho, Cam Squires and Ethan Edwards, each finding the scoresheet and highlighting the pipeline of young talent working its way toward New Jersey.
Utica carried that energy into their next game but fell short in a 3-2 overtime loss. Kyle Criscuolo tied the game late with a shorthanded finish off a precise feed from Hameenaho, earning the team a point. Goaltender Nico Daws delivered another solid performance, stopping 30 of 33 shots, but it wasn’t enough to secure back-to-back wins. Still, the weekend marked a pronounced step forward for an AHL squad that has struggled to find rhythm.
The Comets’ recent improvement followed significant line adjustments prompted by Angus Crookshank’s NHL recall. The reshuffling elevated Hameenaho to the second line and moved Squires into a larger role on the third. Criscuolo, shifted to top-line center, scored in both games after swapping places with Ryan Schmelzer. Thomas Bordeleau, now slotted into fourth-line duties, remained part of the overhaul as coaches looked to spark more consistent offensive pressure. While the sample size remains small, the changes delivered one of Utica’s most promising weekends of the season.
The prospect pipeline also continued to generate positive signs beyond Utica. Mason Moe is heating up at the University of Minnesota, adding to his total with a highlight-reel goal and climbing to five goals and three assists. David Rozsival has been consistently productive for the Green Bay Gamblers in the USHL, extending his strong stretch with his 12th goal of the year. Chase Cheslock posted a three-assist performance for the University of St. Thomas, bringing his season tally to 13 points in 17 games—impressive numbers for a defense-first blue-liner. Goaltender Veeti Louhivaara has also steadied his game, posting a 2.43 GAA and .918 save percentage for JYP U20, a welcome rebound after a season marked by league transitions.
For the Devils, Tuesday’s win in Ottawa served as a necessary reminder of what this roster can accomplish when playing with urgency and structure. With major players still recovering, prospects making progress and cap constraints forcing discipline at the front office level, New Jersey enters tonight’s game against Tampa Bay looking to build on a victory earned the hard way. The season remains long, the standings remain tight and every point carries weight as the Devils work to turn momentum into sustained success.
