New Jersey Devils has occupied third place in the Metropolitan Division for more than two months and has a seven-point on the New York Islanders and the New York Rangers with 10 games left.
Although it may seem like Plum Playoff positioning that comes in on Wednesday’s visit to the sinking Chicago Blackhawks, the devils fight (37-28-7) as well. They come from a 0-3 home gesture against colleagues after the season and continue their journey on Friday at the Western Conference leading Winnipeg, which puts extra pressure to get two points in Windy City.
Nico Hischier remained a bright place in the team’s latest loss and earned an assist on Monday to stretch his score to a season-high seven matches. However, overall inconsistency continues to torment the devils and is something they must erase.
New Jersey handed the binding target to Vancouver with 36 seconds left in the regulation on Monday, then the Canucks 4-3 prevailed in a shootout.
“I thought we did many good things, but we talked about being consistent and if you want to win the game you have to be consistent for 60 minutes,” Devils said forward Timo Meier. “If you are only consistent for 59:30 you will pay for it. At least we have a point, but it is frustrating to lose like this.”
Meier counted New Jersey’s first two goals and gave him 22 goals this season. Hischier is tops in the team with 30 goals, but with Jack Hughes (27) injured for the season, Meier can finish as Devil’s other leading goal scorer.
After stopping a seasonal seven game that loses the line with Sunday’s 7-4 home box in Philadelphia, Chicago (21-41-9) aims to secure victories in succession for the first time since March 1-3.
The outbreak marked Blackhawk’s first seven-goal outlet since March 12, 2024. Ryan Donato keyed to the attack with a couple of power-play goals.
It gave Donato a team -leading 25 speech this season, nine better than his previous career loudly, as he continues to shine down in an upcoming season.
“I mean, I always have confidence in myself, right?” Said Donato. “But you just ask that good things happen and that you just do the hard work. I set goals for myself – I will not share with you – but I only share goals for myself. But at the end of the day it is obviously super exciting, and I am very happy to do it.”
Connor Bedard, the reigning League Rookie of the Year and the team’s leading goal scorer with 56 points, has also recently taken up their production. Bedard has done in three of the last four matches and netted on Sunday his 20th goal of the season.
Bedard joined Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, Artemi Panarin and Alex Debrincat as Blackhawks players who have opened their career with consecutive 20-goal campaigns in the last 20 seasons.
“Right now it’s how can we get better and improve?” Said Bedard. “Enjoy the game and enjoy being together and just try to play as well as we can to get better.”
New Jersey aims to swipe the season series. The devils defeated to visit Chicago 4-1 on December 14 on the strength of a four-goal third period.
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