The New Jersey Devils are still very much in the thick of the Eastern Conference race, but a pair of regulation losses to division rivals has exposed a key concern that could have real implications down the stretch.
After falling 5-3 to both the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Philadelphia Flyers, the Devils now sit with a 3-4-1 record against Metropolitan Division opponents. That’s a mark that doesn’t scream “contender,” especially when you consider how tight the division is shaping up to be. And while the overall record-16 wins, 33 points-is solid, the head-to-head results inside the Metro tell a different story.
Let’s break it down: New Jersey has been dominant outside the division, going 6-2-0 against Atlantic teams and 7-3-0 against the Western Conference. But inside their own neighborhood?
It’s been a grind. Of those three Metro wins, only one came in regulation-a 3-2 win in Columbus back on October 13.
The other two were shootout victories against Pittsburgh and Washington. Meanwhile, the only game where they’ve managed to push it past regulation and still lose was a 3-2 overtime defeat to the Islanders.
So what’s the takeaway here? The Devils are clearly capable of winning games, but they’re not doing enough damage where it matters most: against the teams they’re directly jockeying with for playoff position.
Now, let’s be clear-this isn’t a red-alert situation. There’s no need to hit the panic button.
Injuries have played a role, especially with Jack Hughes missing time, and yet New Jersey is still sitting near the top of the standings. That’s a testament to the depth and resilience of this group.
But in a division as packed as the Metro, where every team is above .500 in point percentage, the margin for error is razor-thin.
Just look at the numbers. The Devils are only one point behind the Hurricanes for the division lead.
But they’re also just five points ahead of the Rangers-who, despite sitting in last place, have a .518 point percentage and 28 points. The Capitals are at 32, the Penguins and Flyers are both at 31, and the Islanders and Blue Jackets are right there with 29.
That’s seven teams all within a handful of points of each other. It’s a logjam, and every divisional game is essentially a four-point swing.
That’s why these Metro matchups matter so much. Lose one, and you’re not just dropping two points-you’re handing them to a direct rival. Stack a few of those losses together, and you can go from second place to the playoff bubble in a hurry.
And there’s another layer to this: playoff positioning. Under the current format, winning the division doesn’t just look good in the standings-it comes with a tangible reward.
The division champ gets home-ice advantage for the first two rounds, assuming they advance. That’s huge for a Devils team that’s been strong at home this season.
If they want to make a deep run, they’ll want to play as many games as possible at Prudential Center-and avoid trips to hostile environments like Lenovo Center.
It’s also worth noting that the Devils have never won the Metropolitan Division. Their last division title came back in 2009-10, when they were still part of the Atlantic. With 18 more games left against Metro opponents, they’ve got a real shot to end that drought-but only if they start turning those head-to-head matchups into regulation wins.
The next big test comes December 23, when they head to Long Island to face the Islanders. That’ll be another chance to bank points-and keep pace in a division where every game feels like a playoff preview.
Bottom line: The Devils are a legit contender. But if they want to stay near the top-and maybe even finish there-they’ll need to start taking care of business in their own backyard.