Devils' 3-1 Loss to Islanders: More of the Same Boring Hockey
Another loss, another game where the New Jersey Devils' offense didn't show up. Plus, some notes on the big picture
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Deja vu, or something like that. At this point, it’s the same old story with every New Jersey Devils loss. Last night, they played 10 great minutes in the second period, but the other 50 minutes of the game were not anything different from what we’ve seen.
With the 3-1 loss to the New York Islanders, the Devils are 11 points behind the Islanders for third place in the Metropolitan Division. They’ve scored just two goals across their last three games, and unfortunately, this isn’t even rock-bottom.
Devils Offense Still M.I.A.
Not that a win would have changed the Devils’ playoff odds yesterday, but aside from the 10 minutes in the second period when they scored their lone goal, that was a largely lifeless performance.
The Islanders only ended up with 14 shots on goal, but the quality of chances was just about even. They generated more expected goals than the Devils at five-on-five in the first and third periods, and high-danger chances were equal for the game at nine.
To be honest, the Devils were lucky not to be down early in the first period. The Islanders had a few grade-A chances, but they whiffed on them and did not even hit the net.
The Devils played well for the final ten minutes of the second period. They had the Islanders hemmed in their own end for most of the time, and they got rewarded with a goal via Nico Hischier.
But as has been the case so many times this season, they couldn’t build on it. I don’t know what it is about the third period, but the Devils play their worst hockey in the final frame.
After last night’s loss, they now have a goal differential of -21 in the third period for the season. It’s not like they played well, either. The Islanders out-chanced the Devils 10-3 and held a slight edge in expected goals (0.69-0.49) at five-on-five in the third period.
Playing scared isn’t the right way to describe it, I don’t think. However, the Devils play too conservatively in the third period or however you want to describe it. It feels like they play not to lose, and you could say that about plenty of games this season.
Just look at the 3-0 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday, or the 4-1 loss to the Ottawa Senators over the weekend. And those are just the recent results. There’s more if you view their game log.
The players bear responsibility for not showing up in the third period, but the coaching staff isn’t doing them any favors, either. When you want to win games playing defensive hockey, you’re going to be in these positions more often than not.
Assuming Sheldon Keefe is still the head coach coming out of the break, he needs to open up the Devils’ offense and let it be more free-flowing.
It does not matter at this point. They’re 11 points out of a playoff spot. They’re not making it, but stop trying to fit a square peg into a round hole. Cater the system to the players’ strengths instead of forcing them to play this style of hockey, where the objective is to win every game 2-1. It has not worked and will not work.
Devils & the Big Picture
Let’s look at some big picture items instead of focusing more on that game. Courtesy of Dimitri Filipovic, let’s compare the Devils to the Tampa Bay Lightning, who look like Stanley Cup favorites in the East.
Across their last 21 games, the Lightning are 19-1-1. They have a goal differential of +3 and have scored 88 goals while allowing 49:
I tweeted about this after the game, but if you’re not on Twitter or just missed the tweet, here are the Devils’ stats over their last 21 games.
They’ve scored 44 goals, literally half of what the Lightning have, and they’ve allowed 67 goals for a goal differential of -23. That’s a difference of 82 goals. In case you’re wondering, those 44 goals rank 32nd in the NHL over the last 21 games. Even the Vancouver Canucks have scored more (45) than the Devils.
Now, is it fair to be comparing the Devils to the Lightning? Maybe not, but we all expected the Devils to be competing for a top-three spot in the Metro this season, right? It shows how disappointing they’ve been.
Since Christmas 2024, the Devils are 47-49-6 across their last 102 games. Over that stretch, they have a goal differential of -45. At five-on-five, they have an expected goals share (xG%) of 48.45 percent.
Yet, nothing has changed. This team has not performed well for over a calendar year. But the only changes to the roster have been on the margins, such as the additions of Connor Brown, Evgenii Dadonov, and, most recently, Nick Bjugstad.
The personnel isn’t good, but neither is the coaching. Hischier, Jesper Bratt and Jack Hughes’ five-on-five efficiency has cratered since Keefe took over as coach, and how they play likely has something to do with it:
Obviously, Tom Fitzgerald is not doing his job, either. His roster construction is what creates such a significant gap between the Lightning and Devils.
At this point, the Devils are better off losing and improving their draft lottery odds. Having a shot at a player like Gavin McKenna or Ivar Stenberg should feel like a luxury at this point, but it’s the opposite. They badly need a blue-chip talent like McKenna or Stenberg.
It’s crazy that we’re saying that in February 2026, but here we are again. It should never have come to this, but there have been multiple missteps in recent years, whether it’s been drafting or acquiring NHL talent. And that’s why sweeping change is needed.
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Advanced stats from Natural Stat Trick
It’s 2015/2016 all over again. But with higher paid players who don’t respond to a BS offensive approach by a coach who doesn’t adapt to his players. Cant fire or trade them all away. Keefe is a disaster+ futz sucks= lottery pick again for the below avg devils. Put a pitch fork in this season Don!!!
“Since Christmas 2024, the Devils are 47-49-6 across their last 103 games. Over that stretch, they have a goal differential of -45. At five-on-five, they have an expected goals share (xG%) of 48.45 percent. “
There’s nothing else to say…. Keefe and Fitz got to go. They lost the locker room , Bratt looks uninterested, Meier who the hell knows what he’s doin out there. Big contracts and no results!!! They need a coach that lights a fire under their a**!!! Tired of watching this below mediocre team. I’m done