Devils Notes: Allen's Excellence, Missing Hischier & More

New Jersey Devils notes on Jake Allen's strong play, missing Nico Hischier and plenty more at the 4 Nations break.

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Everyone knew Jacob Markström would be the key to the New Jersey Devils having a successful season in 2024-25. But let's not forget about Jake Allen, either. There's a reason why the Devils acquired him at the trade deadline last year.

Markström had been the Devils' workhorse until he suffered an MCL sprain, so Allen has had to pick up the slack since then. But even before that, Allen has given the Devils everything they could have asked for this season. Plus, on how the Devils miss Nico Hischier and more bullets as the 4 Nations break begins.

Allen Has Been Outstanding

Let's start with how good Allen has been since Markström got hurt. In seven games played, he has a .934 save percentage, .875 high-danger SV%, and has saved 10.05 goals above expected.

It's not like the Devils have played well since Markström's injury, either. They have a 44.74 expected goals share (xG%) and have allowed 3.04 expected goals per 60 minutes at five-on-five. Allen has seen plenty of quality looks at that game state, but he's answered the bell.

He has a .931 SV% at five-on-five since Markström's injury, as well as a high-danger SV% of .854. He's given up 11 goals on 17.18 expected goals, meaning he's stopped 6.18 goals above expected at that game state.

The Devils have gone 5-3-0 since Markström's injury, with Allen picking up four of those wins; Nico Daws got the other in his lone start in a 3-2 shootout win over the Pittsburgh Penguins last week.

It hasn't just been this stretch of hockey without Markström where Allen has excelled, though. Aside from some clunkers earlier in the season, he's been one of the better backups/1Bs in the NHL.

After Saturday's 34-save shutout against the Montreal Canadiens, Allen is up to a .910 SV% for the season. He's saved 16.1 goals above expected (via MoneyPuck), ranked fifth in the NHL among qualified goalies.

Only Connor Hellebuyck, Logan Thompson, Joey Daccord, and Lukas Dostal have saved move goals above expected than Allen. For context's sake, Markström ranks 13th with 11.3 goals saved above expected. That number could be higher if he weren't injured, but it still shows how excellent Allen has been.