The New Jersey Devils went from a sharp opening-night win to a flat-out disaster in a hurry.
After beating the Philadelphia Flyers 3-2 in overtime on Thursday night, with Jack Hughes scoring the winner, the Devils got buried Saturday night in a 6-0 loss to the New York Islanders. The shutout wiped away whatever momentum they had built, and it came in the Islanders’ home opener.
It was also another ugly chapter against this matchup. The Devils have now lost six straight to the Islanders, including their last trip to UBS Arena, a 9-0 loss that still stands as one of the most embarrassing games of this era. This one is not far behind it.
The power play is one obvious problem early on. New Jersey is 0-for-8 to start the season, and that’s not good enough for a unit that is fully healthy. But the far bigger concern coming out of this game is in goal.
Nico Daws had the kind of night that can put a spotlight on a team’s biggest fear. The Devils made their bet on him when they traded Jacob Markstrom to the Florida Panthers, and right now that decision looks rough.
Daws actually opened the game well. He stopped everything in the first period and had one goal saved above expected. Then the night unraveled fast.
Simon Holmstrom beat him on a side-to-side shot that found the back of the net off Holmstrom’s stick. On the second goal, Daws mishandled a puck to his chest, it was tipped through his legs, and Brayden Schenn finished the play with an easy score. Later, after Cody Glass failed to clear the puck on the penalty kill - on a nice play by Matthew Schaefer - Bo Horvat got to within a foot of Daws and the goalie failed to cover the left pipe for another easy one.
By the end, Daws had given up six goals on 32 shots.
That kind of performance is exactly why this situation feels so fragile. Jake Allen was good on Thursday, and for now he’s the starter. Remi Poirier is there as a backup option, and the Devils may need him sooner rather than later.
The organization also has David Rittich, who stopped 20 of 21 shots on Friday night for the Utica Comets. With those options around him, Daws won’t have much room for a long stretch of poor play. He has to settle in fast, because he cannot be costing the Devils games.
The talent is there. The results have been too uneven. And after one game like this, the questions around Daws are impossible to ignore.
In Other News...
Anthony Mantha Suddenly Has A Big Chance In New Jersey
Anthony Manthas first regular-season look alongside Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt came in the Devils 3-2 overtime win over the Flyers, and it gave a quick glimpse of why New Jersey wanted to see more. Sheldon Keefe singled out Manthas positioning and his role in a key goal, while the winger talked about the need to play a smart, straightforward game next to two linemates whose pace can force defenses into uncomfortable decisions.
For Mantha, the opportunity is arriving at a time when life is also starting to settle off the ice. He and his family have found a new home in New Jersey, and their children are starting school, making the transition feel more complete as he tries to carve out a bigger role. The fit with Hughes and Bratt is still early, but it already feels like one of those lineup combinations that could tell the Devils a lot about what Mantha can add over the long haul. [Read more 🡒]
Timo Meier Gives Devils Fans One More Reason To Watch Tonight
Timo Meiers night against the New York Islanders comes with a little extra significance, as he is set to skate in the 700th NHL game of his career. For the Devils, it is another reminder of how central he has become since arriving in February 2023 in a trade with San Jose, then locking in long term with an eight-year extension soon after.
Meier has settled in as one of New Jerseys most important offensive pieces, giving the lineup a steady goal threat and a real presence on the power play. He has been a consistent 20-goal scorer in recent seasons, and milestones like this one underscore just how much mileage he has already put into a career that still has plenty ahead of it. [Read more 🡒]
Devils Showed Exactly Why Fans Should Believe In This Start
The Devils opened their 2026-27 season at home by doing what good teams usually do in October: controlling play, creating chances and finding a way to bank the points. New Jersey out-attempted Philadelphia by a wide margin and spent long stretches with the puck in the Flyers end, with Dougie Hamilton, Luke Hughes and Jack Hughes all getting on the board in a 3-2 overtime win that gave the building plenty to feel good about right away.
There were still a few early-season loose edges, most notably a power play that went 0-for-4, but the bigger takeaway was how firmly the Devils dictated the game at even strength. Jack Hughes ending it in overtime only added to the sense that this start is built on more than a hot bounce or two, and it gave fans a reminder that the teams top-end talent can still take over when the night gets tight. [Read more 🡒]