The New Jersey Devils came into this week riding high, fresh off a win over the Buffalo Sabres that had them sitting atop the Metropolitan Division. But the NHL season doesn’t offer much time to celebrate. When the Philadelphia Flyers came to town to kick off a homestand, the Devils got a harsh reality check - a 5-3 loss that marked their first regulation defeat at home this season.
Monday night brought a chance to bounce back against another division rival, the Columbus Blue Jackets. And for a few minutes, it looked like the Devils were ready to make a statement.
They jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the opening five minutes, bringing energy and urgency that matched the stakes. But hockey games aren’t won in five-minute bursts.
Over the next 55 minutes, the Devils were outscored 5-2, unraveling in a game that turned chaotic with fights, scrums, and some controversial officiating.
It wasn’t just the scoreboard that stung - it was the way the loss unfolded. The Devils did show some fight, literally and figuratively, especially after Brenden Dillon was forced out following a hit from Dmitri Voronkov that raised more than a few eyebrows.
Standing up for a teammate is something this Devils team has been called out for not doing in the past, so seeing them rally around Dillon was a positive sign. That kind of unity can matter in a locker room, especially during a stretch where the schedule offers little room to breathe.
But moral victories don’t count in the standings. And the reality is, the Devils just dropped two straight games at home to division opponents.
That’s a tough pill to swallow in any context, but it’s especially costly this season. With the Olympic break compressing the schedule, there’s no margin for error.
Last year, the Devils had a bit of a cushion when things got rocky. This year?
That cushion doesn’t exist. The Metro is a logjam, and every point matters.
Now, the road ahead gets even tougher. The Devils welcome the Dallas Stars and Vegas Golden Knights to Prudential Center this week - two teams that are not just good, but legitimate contenders.
Dallas is right behind Colorado in the Central Division and has been one of the most complete teams in the league this season. Vegas, meanwhile, is just one point off the lead in the Pacific and brings championship pedigree and depth that can wear down even the most disciplined teams.
And if that wasn’t enough, the Devils head to Boston on Saturday to complete a back-to-back after facing Vegas on Friday. Playing in Boston is always a grind, and recent history hasn’t been kind to New Jersey in either back-to-backs or trips to TD Garden.
Looking at the rest of December, there’s not much relief in sight. Of the 14 remaining games this month, only three opponents - Vancouver, Buffalo, and Toronto - are at or below the .500 mark.
Everyone else is either in a playoff spot or within striking distance of one. That’s a gauntlet, plain and simple.
This is why those division games were so important. Dropping them puts added pressure on a team already dealing with injuries to key players like Jack Hughes and Brett Pesce.
There’s hope that Brenden Dillon will be back on the ice soon, potentially as early as Wednesday against Dallas, and the eventual returns of Hughes, Pesce, and Johnny Kovacevic could bring some much-needed reinforcements. But until then, the Devils are going to have to gut it out with what they’ve got.
December was always going to be a test. Now, it’s shaping up to be a defining stretch.
If the Devils can weather this storm, they’ll come out stronger on the other side. But if the losses keep piling up, they risk digging a hole too deep to climb out of - even with their stars back in the lineup.