The New Jersey Devils are hitting a rough patch, and the timing couldn’t be worse. After cruising through the early part of the season with an unblemished record in regulation at home, the Devils have now dropped two straight at the Prudential Center-first to the Flyers, then to the Blue Jackets. And while the losses sting, it’s the way they’ve unfolded that should raise some eyebrows.
The latest setback came on what was supposed to be a celebratory night. Defenseman Brenden Dillon was honored for reaching the 1,000-game milestone-a rare and hard-earned feat in the NHL.
But the night quickly took a turn. Dillon was forced off the ice after a scuffle that left him shaken.
He returned briefly for three shifts but didn’t see the ice again in the third period.
Head coach Sheldon Keefe didn’t mince words postgame. “Dillon would never do something like that to another player.
That I know for certain,” Keefe said. “I don’t like it.
I don’t think Dillon knows he’s in a fight, and he’s tackled from behind. Before he knows it, his helmet’s off, his jersey is over his head, and we saw what happened from there.”
Dillon logged just over ten minutes of ice time in his milestone game-far less than the Devils would’ve hoped for from one of their veteran blueliners. His absence was felt as the team, despite jumping out to an early lead, couldn’t maintain control and ultimately fell 5-3 to Columbus.
This marks the first time all season the Devils have lost two straight on home ice, a notable shift for a team that had made The Rock a fortress through the early months. And the timing couldn’t be more unforgiving.
The road ahead? It’s a gauntlet.
The Devils are staring down a stretch that includes matchups with three of the league’s top teams-the Dallas Stars, Vegas Golden Knights, and Boston Bruins-all within the span of a week. That’s part of a brutal December slate that features 14 games in just 29 days.
The Winter Olympic break is on the horizon, but until then, there’s no room to coast.
And the standings aren’t offering much breathing room either. With every team in the league either holding a playoff spot or within three points of one, the margin for error is razor-thin.
The Devils currently sit second in the Metropolitan Division with 33 points, just two behind the Flyers and now four back of the Blue Jackets. Every point matters, and dropping games to direct division rivals only tightens the squeeze.
Injuries have played a role, no doubt. But this is the time of year when contenders separate themselves from the pack-not just by talent, but by resilience.
The Devils have shown flashes of being a team that can make noise in the postseason. But to stay in that conversation, they’ll need to find a way to grind out wins, even when the lineup isn’t at full strength and the schedule feels relentless.
These next few weeks are going to be a test. Not just of skill, but of depth, leadership, and mental toughness. If New Jersey wants to stay near the top of the Metro-and keep pace in a league where the playoff race is already heating up-they’ll need to regroup quickly and rediscover the form that made them so tough to beat at home.
The good news? There’s still time. But in a season where every night feels like a must-win, that clock is ticking fast.