On Sunday afternoon, with a large majority of their fans snowed in, the New Jersey Devils looked to continue their perfect road trip with a matchup against the Seattle Kraken. However, the all too familiar lack of finishing/timely saves contributed to their downfall when they fell 4-2.
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The Dougie Hamilton wave continues
When Dougie Hamilton was a healthy scratch two weeks ago, some wondered if he would ever wear a Devils uniform again. And when he re-entered the lineup just one game later, some wondered how an already struggling Hamilton would perform with tons of trade-related rumors swirling.
It’s safe to say: It lit a spark in him. After recording nine points in his first 39 games, his power-play goal tonight marked his ninth point in the next eight games. Talk about a turnaround.
Dougie Hamilton is on a SEVEN game point streak since his scratch 😳🚨 pic.twitter.com/jkqpdtoD7s
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) January 25, 2026
It wasn’t just the goal that made Hamilton stand out; with him on the ice today, the Devils defeated Seattle 8-0. Since Jan. 8, the Devils have a plus-29 high-danger differential and a plus-5 goal differential with him on the ice.
He has also fared noticeably better defensively, with the Devils allowing just 0.88 goals per 60 minutes (GF/60) in that span. That is by far the best among the team’s defenders; Jonas Siegenthaler is second with 1.75 GF/60. (via Natural statistical trick)
Keefe’s faith in Markstrom backfires
It’s been a rollercoaster ride of a season for Jacob Markstrom, who has looked great at times but struggled to stay consistent. After a tough performance in Vancouver, head coach Sheldon Keefe opted to go straight back to him. against NJD.TV”Marky wasn’t really happy with his play recently. Despite this, he has won four of his last five starts. This is a chance for him to get back at it straight away today against a team we played against not so long ago,”
It’s the kind of move where if it works, you’re a genius. But unfortunately for the Devils, that didn’t happen. Markstrom stopped just 15 of 18 (0.833%) – a lower save percentage than in the Vancouver game. While Seattle’s first goal was a fluke, they later scored two in 18 seconds.
By money puckeach of these had a 1.2% and 7.5% chance of being a goal respectively, bringing his total for the match to minus 2.6 goals saved above expectations. For the season, Markstrom’s save percentage now stands at 0.879%.
Not scoring enough goals
Even with the recent improved scoring from the Devils’ new fourth line, they haven’t scored enough overall. In four games on the trip, the win over Vancouver was the only one in which they scored more than twice.
Today they scored just twice – both on the power play – and were bowled out at even strength despite an expected goals ratio of 1.96. During the trip, none of the ‘core four’ – Timo Meier, Jesper Bratt, Nico Hischier or Jack Hughes – scored at even strength.
Since Jan. 1, Bratt has scored three even-strength goals, while Meier and Hischier have one each. Hughes doesn’t have one.
Come on
The Devils – now 27-23-2 – will look to bounce back on Tuesday night when they return home to take on the Winnipeg Jets (7:00 PM EST).
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