Devils’ Metro Struggles Are Starting to Matter - And the Clock’s Ticking
The New Jersey Devils dropped their second straight regulation game to the Philadelphia Flyers this past Saturday - and while two losses don’t define a season, they do highlight a growing concern. The Devils aren’t getting it done against their own division, and in the Metropolitan, that’s a dangerous game to play.
Let’s set the scene: the Metro standings are a logjam. Heading into Sunday, just six points separated the top team from the bottom.
That’s not a typo. One bad week, and you can go from leading the pack to trailing it.
So when the Devils lose back-to-back regulation games to a division rival like the Flyers - games that swing four points in the standings - it stings. If they had split those two matchups, they’d be sitting six points clear of Philly.
Instead, they’re just two points ahead, and the Flyers still have a game in hand. That’s the kind of math that keeps coaches up at night.
Right now, New Jersey is 3-3-1 against Metro opponents. That’s not catastrophic, but it’s not good either - especially when you dig into the details.
Of those three wins, only one came in regulation, and that was back on October 13 in Columbus. That night, the Devils were outshot 33-28 and posted a 5-on-5 Expected Goals For percentage of just 39.21%, per Natural Stat Trick.
In other words, they were fortunate to escape with two points.
Zoom out, and the picture doesn’t get much prettier. Out of a possible 14 points in division games, the Devils have only claimed seven.
Their Metro opponents? They’ve taken 10.
That’s a losing trend, and in a division this tight, it could come back to bite hard when the playoff race heats up.
Let’s break down the Metro matchups so far:
vs. Carolina Hurricanes
- Game played: 10/9 (6-3 regulation loss)
- Points: 0 for NJ, 2 for CAR
- Future meetings: 1/4 (home), 1/17 (home), 3/28 (away)
vs. Columbus Blue Jackets
- Game played: 10/13 (3-2 regulation win)
- Points: 2 for NJ, 0 for CBJ
- Future meetings: 12/1 (home), 12/31 (away), 2/3 (home)
vs. New York Islanders
- Game played: 11/10 (3-2 overtime loss)
- Points: 1 for NJ, 2 for NYI
- Future meetings: 12/23 (away), 1/6 (away), 2/5 (home)
vs. New York Rangers
- Games played: None yet
- Future meetings: 3/7 (home), 3/18 (away), 3/31 (away)
vs. Philadelphia Flyers
- Games played: 11/22 (6-3 regulation loss), 11/29 (5-3 regulation loss)
- Points: 0 for NJ, 4 for PHI
- Future meeting: 4/7 (home)
vs. Pittsburgh Penguins
- Game played: 11/8 (2-1 shootout win)
- Points: 2 for NJ, 1 for PIT
- Future meetings: 1/8 (away), 2/26 (away), 4/9 (home)
vs. Washington Capitals
- Game played: 11/15 (3-2 shootout win)
- Points: 2 for NJ, 1 for WSH
- Future meetings: 12/27 (home), 3/20 (away), 4/2 (home)
Now, to be fair, the Devils haven’t exactly had the easiest path. They’ve been dealing with a rash of injuries, including the absence of their top player, Jack Hughes, during several key division games - both Flyers matchups included. The schedule hasn’t been kind either, throwing a steady diet of tough opponents at them with little time to regroup.
But this is the NHL. No one’s handing out sympathy points. At the end of the day, it’s a results-driven league, and the Devils haven’t been stacking the right kind of results against the teams they need to beat most.
That makes tonight’s game at home against Columbus a big one. The Blue Jackets sit in last place in the division, but they’re just six points behind New Jersey.
A regulation win would give the Devils some breathing room - an eight-point cushion. A regulation loss, though?
That would cut the gap in half, and suddenly the basement starts to feel a little too close for comfort.
The thing about the Metro is that it’s not likely to stay this chaotic all season - but it might not settle the way Devils fans are hoping. The Penguins and Flyers are outperforming expectations, and while some are waiting for them to regress, there’s no guarantee they will.
The Islanders, too, have been better than anticipated. The Blue Jackets may still be a year away, but they’re playing with the kind of edge that makes them dangerous.
The Rangers and Capitals aren’t flawless, but they’re experienced, and they know how to win. Carolina?
They're still the class of the division until proven otherwise.
So no, New Jersey can’t count on the rest of the division to fall apart. Last year, they were able to ride a strong start and a bit of divisional chaos into the playoffs.
This year? That cushion doesn’t exist.
If the Devils want to be playing meaningful hockey in April - and beyond - they need to start winning the games that matter most. And in the Metro, that means every single one.