As the New Jersey Devils gear up for the final leg of their West Coast road trip, there’s more than just another two points on the line. Sunday’s matchup against the Seattle Kraken isn’t just about closing out a successful swing through Western Canada-it’s a chance to complete a clean four-game sweep and inch closer to a playoff spot in a tightly contested Metropolitan Division race. The puck drops an hour earlier than originally scheduled-3 PM ET-to avoid overlapping with the Seahawks’ game later in the evening.
The Devils are riding a wave of momentum, having taken down Calgary, Edmonton, and Vancouver in succession. The first two wins were defensive clinics, with New Jersey holding both the Flames and Oilers to just one goal apiece.
Friday’s 5-4 victory over the Canucks was a different kind of battle-wide open, high-scoring, and a test of resilience. Now, they’ll look to replicate that success against a Kraken team they’ve already edged once this month in a 3-2 overtime thriller.
To pull off the sweep and secure the season series against Seattle, here are three keys the Devils will need to lean on:
1. Let the Fourth Line Cook
If you’re looking for the heartbeat of Friday’s win, look no further than the Devils’ fourth line. It wasn’t just energy-they brought production.
Lenni Hameenaho, in just his third NHL game, wasted no time making an impact. He opened the scoring less than two minutes in with his first NHL goal, then followed it up with his first assist on Cody Glass’ tally later in the game.
Glass didn’t stop there-he added a second goal, showing the kind of finishing touch that gives this line real teeth. Arseni Gritsyuk, meanwhile, was a spark plug all night, picking up the primary assist on Connor Brown’s power-play goal and buzzing all over the ice.
At Saturday’s practice, the coaching staff kept the trio intact-and for good reason. Chemistry like this doesn’t come easy, especially from a group that started the season outside the top nine. If they can keep driving play and contributing on the scoresheet, they’ll be a real problem for Seattle’s bottom-six.
2. Quality Over Quantity in the Shot Department
The Devils have been outshot in back-to-back games, but they’ve shown that it’s not about how many-it’s about how good. Against Edmonton, they managed just 17 shots to the Oilers’ 23, and were outshot 13-3 in the third period alone.
Still, neither team scored in that final frame. Against Vancouver, it was a similar story: the Canucks had the edge in shots in the third, but both teams only found the net once.
What that tells us is the Devils are making their chances count. They’re not just throwing pucks on net-they’re generating high-danger looks and finishing when it matters most. That kind of efficiency is going to be crucial against a Kraken team that can grind games down and frustrate opponents with their structure.
If New Jersey can continue to cash in on the chances they do create-especially on the rush and in transition-they’ll put themselves in a strong position to close this trip out with a win.
3. Blue Line Has to Hold the Line
The Devils’ defensive corps has had to adjust on the fly after losing Luke Hughes to injury in Calgary. With Hughes now on long-term injured reserve, Colton White was called up to provide depth, and the pairings have been shuffled accordingly.
Jonas Siegenthaler has stepped into a top-pair role alongside Brett Pesce, while Brenden Dillon and Dougie Hamilton anchor the second unit. The third pair features Simon Nemec and Johnathan Kovacevic, with White ready to slot in if needed.
Kovacevic is still working his way back to full speed after offseason knee surgery, but he’s held his own so far on this trip. And with the rest of the blue line playing steady, structured hockey, the Devils have managed to weather the storm without Hughes.
That said, Seattle presents a different kind of challenge. They’re not flashy, but they’re physical and disciplined. The Devils’ defense will need to stay sharp, manage the puck well in their own zone, and continue to support the transition game that’s become a real strength during this road trip.
The Stakes
A win on Sunday would do more than just put a bow on a perfect road trip-it would pull the Devils within a single point of the New York Islanders for third place in the Metro. In a conference where every point matters, that’s the kind of game that can shift the tone of a season.
So far, the Devils have answered the bell in every city they’ve visited. One more win, and they’ll head home with momentum, confidence, and a serious statement to the rest of the East.