Devils Fall Again as Playoff Hopes Slip Further Away - And the Clock’s Ticking
The last time the Devils faced the Islanders, it was a night they'd rather forget - a 9-0 beatdown that marked their worst loss in more than four decades. This rematch was supposed to be about redemption, about showing some fight with their playoff hopes hanging by a thread. Instead, it ended with another missed opportunity, a 3-1 regulation loss that felt all too familiar.
Let’s not sugarcoat it: this one stings. And more than that, it’s emblematic of what’s gone wrong for New Jersey all season long.
Grinding for Goals - and Coming Up Empty
The Devils aren’t losing because they’re boring. They’re losing because they’re not finishing. And that’s a massive problem.
Look, fans don’t mind low-event hockey if it leads to wins. But what we’re seeing from New Jersey is a team that has to work incredibly hard just to get one on the board - and even then, it’s often not enough. Nico Hischier’s goal tonight briefly gave them life, but it also highlighted just how much effort it takes for this team to generate offense.
The numbers back it up. The Devils have scored just 89 goals at 5-on-5 this season - dead last in the league.
That’s not just a cold stretch; that’s a trend. They’re consistently underperforming their expected goals, and it’s costing them dearly.
Tonight, they finished 1.17 goals below expected at even strength, bringing their season-long total to a staggering 32.17 goals below expected.
To put that in perspective: if they were simply finishing at a league-average rate, their goal differential would swing from minus-29 to plus-3. That alone might not vault them into a playoff spot, but it would at least put them in the conversation.
Head coach Sheldon Keefe summed it up plainly: “We played a good hockey game. You’ve got to score to get rewarded for it, in terms of points.”
He’s not wrong. The Devils held the Islanders to just seven shots through two periods.
They had four breakaways. Zero goals to show for it.
That’s been the story far too often this season - solid structure, strong defensive effort, and no payoff.
Playoffs? Not Likely.
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room: the postseason.
Even an overtime win probably wouldn’t have moved the needle much. The Devils needed a regulation win tonight.
Instead, they’ve now dropped five of their last six in regulation. According to Moneypuck, their odds of making the playoffs have dipped to 2.77%.
For context, they’ve got better odds of winning the draft lottery (4.8%) than they do of playing meaningful hockey in April.
And yeah - this is the same team that started the season 8-1-0. That feels like a lifetime ago.
“We understand that over these three weeks, we’ll have a lot of time to reflect on a lot of things,” said goaltender Jake Allen. “And yeah, we’ve got to go on a hell of a run.”
He’s not exaggerating. With 25 games left, the Devils can afford to lose maybe six - max - if they want to sneak into the postseason. That’s a brutal ask for any team, let alone one that’s struggled to string together consistent offense for months.
Defensive Gains, Offensive Pains
Now, here’s the twist: defensively, this team has actually turned a corner.
Since January 19, the Devils have allowed just 2.19 expected goals against per 60 minutes at 5-on-5 - sixth-best in the NHL over that span. That’s a legitimate improvement. Keefe has the group buying in on the defensive side, and it shows.
But in hockey, structure without scoring only gets you so far.
“We’ve needed points for a long time,” Keefe said. “That’s what you’re here for, to win the damn game. But as a coach, I’m going to go away and step away going into a break and you’re not going to tell me that how we played this last little break... that the recipe isn’t there.”
The recipe might be there. But the ingredients?
Still missing. Until someone starts finishing chances, the Devils are going to keep ending up on the wrong side of games like this.
A Silver Lining: Olympic Pride
Before puck drop, the Devils honored seven players who are headed to the Olympics in Milan - a bright spot in an otherwise frustrating season.
Nico Hischier, Jonas Siegenthaler, and Timo Meier will suit up for Switzerland, while Jesper Bratt and Jacob Markstrom represent Sweden. Jack Hughes is heading to Team USA, and Simon Nemec will skate for Slovakia.
All three Swiss players are reportedly flying straight to Milan to make the Opening Ceremony, which kicks off just 16 hours after the final horn in Newark. It’s a quick turnaround, but a special moment for the players - and a welcome distraction for fans.
It’s also the first time in 12 years we’ll see best-on-best hockey at the Olympics. For hockey fans, that’s something to celebrate - no matter how the NHL season is going.
What’s Next
The Devils head into the Olympic break with a 28-27-2 record, and a mountain to climb if they want to make the playoffs. They’ll return to action on Wednesday, February 25, when they host Lindy Ruff and the Buffalo Sabres at The Rock.
The path forward is narrow. The margin for error is razor-thin. But if there’s any hope left, it has to start immediately after the break.
Because time - and the Devils’ playoff chances - is running out.