Devils’ Playoff Hopes Remain Strong Despite Inconsistency
The New Jersey Devils remain in a solid playoff position, but their struggles with consistency throughout a full 60 minutes have cost them valuable points as the season winds down. Injuries to key players like Jack Hughes, Dougie Hamilton, and Jonas Siegenthaler have further complicated their path to a deep postseason run. However, despite missing important pieces, the Devils’ locker room maintains high expectations as April approaches. Entering the final week of March, New Jersey holds a six-point cushion over the New York Rangers for a playoff berth.
Inconsistency Hurting Devils’ Playoff Push
Even without some of their top players, the Devils still boast a skilled roster. While losing Jack Hughes for the season is a major setback, Jesper Bratt, Timo Meier, and Nico Hischier have stepped up in his absence. Defensively, the addition of Brian Dumoulin and the team’s depth on the blue line have helped offset the losses of Hamilton and Siegenthaler.
Despite their position in the standings, the Devils’ inability to maintain consistency for a full game continues to cost them critical points. After a three-game winning streak, they have dropped four of their last five contests. The common theme in these losses has been costly lapses, where a rough stretch in a game quickly leads to their downfall.
For instance, in their March 28th matchup against Winnipeg, New Jersey fell behind 2-0 just 1:52 into the game. While they settled in afterward, starting in an early hole put them at a disadvantage before half the roster even hit the ice.
Third-Period Collapses
Late-game struggles have also been a recurring issue. On March 17th, the Devils entered the third period in Columbus with a 2-0 lead, playing well against a desperate Blue Jackets team. However, the final frame unraveled quickly, with New Jersey being outshot 24-3. They only escaped with a win thanks to the stellar play of Jake Allen in net.
A similar collapse occurred three days later at home against Calgary. Despite leading 3-1, the Devils were outshot 15-4 in the third period and surrendered four unanswered goals, ultimately falling 5-3 to the Flames.
What’s Next?
With seven games left in the regular season, the Devils have a chance to correct their issues before the playoffs. Some areas have already improved—scoring from the bottom six has picked up, with Cody Glass and Erik Haula thriving on a reworked third line.
Goaltending, a long-time concern for New Jersey, is now a strength. Although Jacob Markstrom has struggled since returning from injury, the Devils have remained steady in net.
For New Jersey to finish strong, they must avoid the costly stretches that put them on their heels—whether it’s a third-period collapse or a brief lapse that allows two quick power-play goals. Maintaining consistency for a full 60 minutes will be crucial.
Fortunately for the Devils, no other Eastern Conference team has made a serious push to threaten their playoff spot. As of March 31st, their postseason chances sit at 99.4%, according to MoneyPuck.
New Jersey will play six of its final seven games at home, with only two matchups against current playoff teams—Minnesota and the Rangers. Barring a disastrous final two weeks, the Devils should secure a postseason berth.
While anything can happen in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, simply locking in a spot would be a success given their recent challenges.
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