The New Jersey Devils stormed back into form on Thursday night, delivering a commanding 7-3 victory over the Washington Capitals. This was just the rebound they needed after a tough outing at Madison Square Garden earlier in the week.
From late February to late March, the Devils were on fire, leading the league with an impressive 3.95 goals per 60 minutes. During this stretch, they notched four games with six or more goals, a feat they hadn’t achieved in over a year. But after a brief scoring slump, they exploded for their highest goal tally of the season.
Jesper Bratt and Jack Hughes led the charge with two goals each, while Dawson Mercer added to the fireworks with his 12th career multi-goal game. Mercer’s second goal of the night was a milestone, marking the 100th of his career. Head coach Sheldon Keefe emphasized the importance of these achievements, highlighting how crucial it is for players to feel confident and reach personal milestones as the season progresses.
With this offensive outburst, the Devils reclaimed their position as the NHL’s top scoring team since February 28, a remarkable turnaround from being the league's lowest scorers before that date.
Jack Hughes was electric, racking up a career-high five points. This was his third 4+ point game in just 26 days, showcasing his incredible form. Teammate Connor Brown praised Hughes’ ability to create space and opportunities, making him a nightmare for opponents.
Interestingly, the Devils have struggled to score as much with Jake Allen in net compared to Jacob Markstrom. Despite this trend, Allen enjoyed the rare luxury of ample goal support in this game, with the team posting their highest score in one of his starts since a similar performance against the Sharks over two years ago.
However, the Devils’ defense still needs attention. Despite their offensive prowess, defensive lapses have been a recurring issue.
The Capitals managed to out-chance the Devils 35-24, exposing some vulnerabilities. Keefe acknowledged the defensive shortcomings, noting that while the offensive execution was stellar, there’s still work to be done on the other end of the ice.
Looking ahead, the Devils, now standing at 39-34-2, will face the Montreal Canadiens in a home-and-home series starting Saturday. It’s an opportunity to build on their offensive momentum while tightening up defensively.