Devils Takeaways From Crucial 5-3 Win vs. the Blackhawks

The New Jersey Devils could not afford to falter against the Blackhawks, but they got the job done and secured 2 crucial points

Mar 27, 2025

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The New Jersey Devils have dropped points in some bad losses a bit too often lately. They could not afford to have the same thing happen against a lowly Chicago Blackhawks team that will be in the running for the first overall pick in June.

Fortunately, the Devils came to play yesterday. They got out to an early multi-goal lead, and though things did get nervy at times, they played one of their better games in recent memory to secure two crucial points, expanding their lead to nine points for third in the Metro.

Devils Got Contributions From Everyone

Games against lottery teams like the Blackhawks can always be traps at this time of the season. They may have nothing to play for in the standings, but that doesn't mean they won't play hard. That's why a fast start was crucial for the Devils, and they got it from some unlikely contributors.

It started with Nathan Bastian breaking a 20-game goal drought to give the Devils a 1-0 lead. Twenty-seven seconds later, Dawson Mercer scored on the power play, and just like that, the Devils had a 2-0 lead.

That multi-goal advantage proved important because Jacob Markström was not at his best. It was one of those games where your goalie needs goal support, and the Devils made sure to get the job done.

Timo Meier has been playing excellent hockey for a while, but he was a bull all night. Though he didn't tally a point, he finished with 1.51 individual expected goals and made a great play to set up Nico Hischier for the primary assist on Stefan Noesen's empty-net goal.

Aside from Bastian, Mercer finished with two goals, bringing him to three points in his last two games. Is he a reader of Devils on the Rush? It's unlikely, but he's getting hot at the right time.

Not only did Bastian and Mercer score, but Ondřej Palát added a crucial shorthanded goal on an Erik Haula penalty that shouldn't have been a penalty. Sure, it was against the Blackhawks, but the Devils need more contributions from the Paláts and Mercers to close out the season and in the playoffs.

Hughes Had His Way

Luke Hughes, woo baby. Sheldon Keefe has been asking plenty of Hughes (and Brett Pesce) since the Jonas Siegenthaler and Dougie Hamilton injuries, and he's mostly answering the bell.

Bastian doesn't score a goal without the elite vision and precision pass from Hughes, who collected the primary assist on that goal. Hughes put the puck right on Bastian's tape. All he had to do was stand there and push the puck into the net.

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Hughes also collected the primary assist on Mercer's first power-play goal. That play wouldn't have happened without Hughes making a sharp pass from the point. Mercer had all the time and space to drive the net, and he'd end up sliding the puck past Spencer Knight.

However, Hughes' best pass may have come on Mercer's second power-play goal that gave the Devils a 4-2 lead. Nick Foligno was applying pressure on Hughes at the point, but he made a beautiful cross-ice saucer pass to Mercer, who had plenty of space to snipe one past Knight.

Hughes led all Devils skaters in game score and finished with an expected goals share (xG%) of 66.53 percent. Sure, it came against the Blackhawks, but it doesn't take away from Hughes' performance. He was fantastic. Now, imagine what he'll look like in his prime a couple of years from now.

Markström Looked Off Again

If there was a concern from yesterday's game, it's that Markström struggled again. He didn't cost the Devils points as he did in a couple of his previous starts, but it's hard to justify starting him in meaningful games right now.

Granted, it's looking much less likely anyone catches the Devils for third in the Metro since the Vancouver Canucks defeated the New York Islanders in regulation last night. Perhaps Keefe will give Markström more run, knowing the Devils have a nine-point gap on third right now, because he needs to see rubber.

Still, Markström has a save percentage of just .845 since returning from his MCL sprain. Eddie Olcyzk and Brian Boucher pointed it out on the broadcast, but Markström did not look comfortable. He was fighting the puck and leaving a lot of loose pucks, something he doesn't do when on his game. He probably should have made a save on Ilya Mikheyev's goal, too.

The Devils still have nine regular-season games left, so I imagine Markström and Jake Allen see something around a 50/50 split. Even if he finds his game, I'm not sure he's the better option than Allen, who ranks fourth in the NHL in goals saved above expected. We'll see how it unfolds.

Quick Hits

Jeremy Colliton continues to be an unsung hero for the Devils. The Jack Hughes and Hamilton injuries could have been death knells for the team's power play. But they scored two more goals last night and are now 10/29 on the man advantage since losing Hughes, a 34.4 percent success rate. The Devils have been a bit better at scoring at five-on-five lately, but they'll need their power play to stay hot to close the regular season.

Keefe made the right decision by plugging Šimon Nemec back into the lineup. Aside from the untimely penalty he had early in the game that led to a Blackhawks power-play goal, Nemec played well, finishing with a 62.47 xG%. The quality of competition played a factor, but hopefully that can help give him some confidence.

Not only did the Devils get a goal from Bastian, but their fourth line played a very solid game. Tomáš Tatar, Curtis Lazar and Bastian finished with a 96.5 xG% and were able to sustain some offensive zone time through cycling the puck and the forecheck. The Devils also need that to continue to close out the regular season.

Game Score Chart