Devils Have Formula For Sustained Success
Special teams and goaltending excellence is a proven formula for winning hockey games. The Devils, who were a bit shaky in those metrics in splitting their first two games, righted the ship at Columbus on Monday night to escape with a 3-2 victory.
If they can bottle that for the majority of their next 79 games, the Devils (2-1) will have a high probability of sustained success.
Easier said than done, of course. Jake Allen, who was brilliant in New Jersey’s net for two periods before exiting the contest due to cramping, and closer Jacob Markstrom watched their skaters deposit a pair of power play goals and kill all five of the Devils’ minors, including defenseman Dougie Hamilton’s four-minute stint early in the first period.
New Jersey, which boasted the league’s third-best power play last season, opened the 2025-26 campaign by failing to convert on all six opportunities with a man advantage. At Monday’s morning skate, it was revealed that Head Coach Sheldon Keefe made two adjustments to the first unit, one of which I was hoping for while the other I felt presented misgivings.
I get that the Devils paid Luke Hughes a ton of money with the understanding that he will be the future quarterback of PP1, but at least until he’s traded, Hamilton at the point is the better fit. Of course Hughes is the far superior skater, but when your group includes brother Jack Hughes, Jesper Bratt, and Nico Hischier, you’re not needed as much for zone entries.
In the NBA, they say three-point shooters provide “gravity” in that they force defenses out to guard them, which in turn opens up the middle of the paint for drives. I haven’t heard the term used that way in hockey circles, but having Hamilton and his fearsome shot on the ice gives the Devils the same benefit. Luke Hughes, as gifted as he is, just doesn’t garner that level of respect and allows opposing PKers to cheat into the middle of the ice, making everything from seam passes to getting shots through more difficult.
You could see the difference on the Devils’ first opportunity midway through Monday’s first period, as Columbus appeared to be so fixated on preventing Hamilton from unleashing a one-timer that they were leaving Hischier alone at the doorstep. Only unfortunate puck luck kept the Devils off the scoreboard until the tail end of the power play, when the Blue Jackets’ defenders got run around. Hamilton got free to rip one from the top of the slot and Bratt threw the rebound across to the opposite circle for Timo Meier to beat goalie Jet Greaves just as Adam Fantilli was about to get out of the penalty box.
Now, having Meier on the right flank, where that goal showed is where he can do the most damage, just seems superfluous to me. Bratt and Jack Hughes have been on opposite sides of the power play formation for years. Dawson Mercer may have been ineffective during the first two games, but someone has to be the net front presence doing the dirty work until Stefan Noesen returns from his groin injury.
In addition, my initial thinking was that Meier gave the Devils some balance on the second unit. He would have more puck carrying responsibilities there and, upon entry, he could focus on getting open around the right circle. At times, he appeared a little lost on PP1 last season.
Of course, Mercer ended up scoring his first goal of the season on a power play counterattack after Allen stoned Fantilli on a Luke Hughes-abetted Columbus three-on-one. Devils rookie wing Arseny Gritsyuk, who has looked like a budding version of Meier (minus the domineering physicality) through three games, took off the other way and delivered a terrific saucer pass that Mercer whipped past Greaves for the go-ahead goal with nine minutes remaining in the second period.
Allen, who only allowed a breakaway goal by Kirill Marchenko among the Blue Jackets’ 24 shots on goal, did some of his best work during the four minutes Hamilton was off. After that, the Devils killed their next two penalties without allowing a single shot to get through. If you choose to include Gritsyuk’s six seconds, the only Devils not to see any time on the PK were fourth liners Paul Cotter and the just called up Brian Halonen.
After the Devils survived a grueling finish to Saturday’s 5-3 victory at perennial Stanley Cup contender Tampa Bay, there was more than a slim chance they’d experience a letdown at lesser Columbus. It was Allen’s first outing of the season on the last night of a three-game road trip, with Thursday’s home opener against two-time Stanley Cup champion Florida looming in the background.
Credit the Devils for keeping it simple. Winning the special teams battle and getting a plus performance from their goalie(s) was all that was required. As it will on many nights.