Are the New Jersey Devils Okay?

The Devils have had a tumultuous season - an incredible start to the season was quickly soured by a spate of injuries, a drop in season wins, and general chaos, leading many to wonder - are they okay? Do they have a chance at the playoffs? Or have these losses cost them a Stanley Cup? 

(Image credit to Sportsnet)

The Devils started their 2025/26 season with a 9 game win streak, which ended against the Colorado Avalanche. This win streak gave both players and fans hope for a perfect season and an easy chance at the playoffs. 

However, after a freak accident for Jack Hughes in Chicago, the team went on to lose 10 out of 18 games; a truly shocking result. Fans hoped that Hughes’ return as well as Jesper Bratt’s (who was also coming back from injury) would improve the results for the team but just 8 games into Hughes’ return, the team faced a 9-0 loss to the New York Islanders - a devastating blow that crushed dreams of a spot in the playoffs. However, some still held out hope. Team captain Nico Hischier spoke about the team’s performance in a post-game interview, referring to it as "embarrassing” and addressed how he expected to have a big response next game and “expects the team to have the same thing.” 

After their disastrous loss to the Islanders, the Devils went on to lose to the Penguins and the Jets - their losing streak felt infinite - however, the infamous “Hughes bowl” was right around the corner. The game against the Minnesota Wild was a close one and pushed both teams to play their absolute best game, but ultimately, the Devils secured a 5-2 win; a major relief for fans. 

Their most recent game against the Seattle Kraken was a back and forth between draws and being up by a goal, keeping fans of both sides on the edge of their seats. After a draw in regulation, Nico Hischier scored the game-winning goal, setting the final score to 3-2. Hischier said that the team “deserved the win” and Jack Hughes reflected on the game by saying “If you look at our last bunch of games we’re still behind the 8-ball. Two good games to get it going for us, but we still have a lot of work to do to get out of this hole”

The Devils’ next game is against the Carolina Hurricanes - a known rival in the Metropolitan division. Both teams will obviously be hoping for a win, but if the Devils can secure one, hope for the playoffs may not be too far off.

Article written by Milla Sinfield