New Jersey Devils’ Road Trip Recap
After a notably productive west coast road trip, the New Jersey Devils are heading back to their home ice this week. Despite ending their trip on a sour note with a 4-2 defeat to the Seattle Kraken, they managed to secure three victories against teams from western Canada, significantly boosting their chances of making the playoffs. This loss to Seattle was a missed chance to clinch a coveted playoff position again, but as the last week of January approaches, the Devils have made commendable progress following a rough stretch that lasted from early December until mid-January.
Upcoming Challenges and Olympic Break
With the NHL’s season set to pause for the Winter Olympics in Italy soon, the context for the Devils becomes even more pressing. This will mark the first time NHL players are allowed to participate in the Olympics in over a decade, provided logistical contests like rink readiness are handled timely. The team’s final match before the Olympic break is scheduled for February 5, making this an opportune moment to evaluate where the Devils stand within the competitive Metropolitan Division, how their upcoming games might impact their playoff fate, and what challenges their divisional rivals face until the break.
Metropolitan Division Standings
Notably absent from this analysis are the Carolina Hurricanes and New York Rangers. The Hurricanes have distanced themselves far enough ahead in the standings that they don’t pose an immediate concern for New Jersey, while the Rangers have slumped dramatically and now occupy a position that seems to have removed them from the playoff conversation.
Pittsburgh Penguins
Current Standing: 2nd in Metropolitan, 63 points in 51 games
Upcoming Games: 1/29 vs Chicago Blackhawks (Home), 1/31 vs New York Rangers (Home), 2/2 vs Ottawa Senators (Home), 2/3 at New York Islanders (Away), 2/5 at Buffalo Sabres (Away)
Initially expected to struggle, the Penguins are surprisingly holding onto second place in the standings. With 11 loser points credited to their record, they appear stronger than they actually are, reflecting the current NHL strategy where accumulating points, however necessary, is crucial. The upcoming stretch of games before the Olympic break is critical, showcasing two divisional games and a couple of key contests against Atlantic teams in the playoff mix. The Devils will be hoping Pittsburgh can win in regulation to avoid further complicating their playoff picture.
New York Islanders
Current Standing: 3rd in Metropolitan, 59 points in 51 games
Upcoming Games: 1/26 at Philadelphia Flyers (Away), 1/28 vs New York Rangers (Home), 1/29 at New York Rangers (Away), 1/31 vs Nashville Predators (Home), 2/2 at Washington Capitals (Away), 2/3 vs Pittsburgh Penguins (Home), 2/5 at New Jersey Devils (Away)
The Islanders face a packed schedule leading up to the Olympic break, with a total of seven games – a stark contrast to the schedules of most teams. Six of these matches will be exciting intra-divisional clashes that could heavily influence the playoff landscape. Despite pre-season predictions of a down year, the Islanders’ fortunes changed with emerging talent like Matthew Schaefer, and now they are eager to maintain their momentum. A key plea from the Devils’ side: let’s hope for fewer three-point games.
Philadelphia Flyers
Current Standing: 4th in Metropolitan, 57 points in 50 games
Upcoming Games: 1/26 vs New York Islanders (Home), 1/28 at Columbus Blue Jackets (Away), 1/29 at Boston Bruins (Away), 1/31 vs Los Angeles Kings (Home), 2/3 vs Washington Capitals (Home), 2/5 vs Ottawa Senators (Home)
The Flyers, another underdog in terms of early predictions, continue to stay competitive against the odds. Their reduced game count compared to their rivals creates an advantageous position for accumulating points. With a balanced schedule comprising divisional and Eastern Conference games, they remain a formidable presence within the playoff conversation.
Washington Capitals
Current Standing: 5th in Metropolitan, 57 points in 53 games
Upcoming Games: 1/27 at Seattle Kraken (Away), 1/29 at Detroit Red Wings (Away), 1/31 vs Carolina Hurricanes (Home), 2/2 vs New York Islanders (Home), 2/3 at Philadelphia Flyers (Away), 2/5 vs Nashville Predators (Home)
The Capitals have an identical points tally to the Flyers but have played three more games, which puts them at a disadvantage as they aim to reclaim their earlier season form. With several divisional matchups incoming, including an interaction with the league-leading Hurricanes, the Capitals cannot afford to falter further.
New Jersey Devils
Current Standing: 6th in Metropolitan, 56 points in 52 games
Upcoming Games: 1/27 vs Winnipeg Jets (Home), 1/29 vs Nashville Predators (Home), 1/31 at Ottawa Senators (Away), 2/3 vs Columbus Blue Jackets (Home), 2/5 vs New York Islanders (Home)
In the final stretch before the Olympic break, the Devils will play four games, with high stakes especially resting on their last two matches against division foes. Their performance against these Metropolitan teams has been disappointing, evidenced by their poor record of 4-9-2 so far. If they aspire for a playoff run, it’s imperative they secure victories, particularly against the Islanders and Blue Jackets, ideally in regulation.
Columbus Blue Jackets
Current Standing: 7th in Metropolitan, 55 points in 51 games
Upcoming Games: 1/26 vs Los Angeles Kings (Home), 1/28 vs Philadelphia Flyers (Home), 1/30 at Chicago Blackhawks (Away), 1/31 at St. Louis Blues (Away), 2/3 at New Jersey Devils (Away), 2/4 vs Chicago Blackhawks (Home)
The Blue Jackets have underperformed relative to their playoff aspirations after an encouraging last season. A firing of their head coach earlier this month indicated dissatisfaction with direction, but they have a mixed schedule leading up to the break, facing both divisional rivals and teams from the west.
Conclusion
As the Devils navigate this crucial juncture, they have a total of 10 points available before the Olympic break. Ideally, they should aim to secure at least seven points of these 10, with targets including wins over the Islanders and Blue Jackets. Given the vulnerability of their opponents, this is a realistic goal as they strive to enhance their playoff position while also requiring a bit of outside assistance in the scoreboard. As January wraps up, their performance will define their standing and competitiveness moving towards February.
What are your predictions regarding the Devils’ outcomes in this pivotal stretch? How many points do you believe are essential for them to clinch before the break? Which Metropolitan Division team presents the most concern, and which contender do you suspect might struggle?
Thank you for your readership!
