Hey, Devils Fans.
This will be a little bit of a different article than usual, as the Devils are obviously in a very unique, difficult, and overall disappointing situation right now heading into tonight’s game in PIT. To be quite frank, I don't recall ever being around an organization that is in as tough a spot as the Devils are in right now, at least since social media has been around and impacted things. So, let's talk about it.
NO RESPONSE
We’ve talked about this team “needing a response” to painful losses countless times now, and tonight's game is no different at face value.
But the reality is that if you ever needed a “response game,” it was going to be @ NYI last game, after Luke got booed by the fans at home on Sunday. And not only did you not have a response, but you also got embarrassed with one of the worst losses in the history of the franchise. Then, what was even more eye-opening to me was the fact that, on top of the 9-0 beatdown you took, you didn't have a single penalty minute... No roughing, no fighting, no slashing, no elbowing, nothing?!?! The lack of emotion in this particular moment tells me that something’s just not right with this team. I don’t know what it is, because I’m not in the locker room, but what I’m seeing on the ice is that something is very wrong.
WHERE DO YOU GO FROM HERE?
With all the noise about Fitzy and Sheldon’s jobs on the line, multiple players in trade talks, fans booing players, etc., I won’t sit here and pretend I know where you go from here, as there are multiple levels to this. In the end, you hate to see people losing their jobs or being traded. However, from a former player’s perspective, it would be very dicey going back home next week and facing the disgruntled fans if the team doesn't win these next few games on this trip.
HOW WE GOT HERE
Yes, everything that could go wrong has gone wrong for the Devils. For me, though, what has buried them and brought us to this point has been the fact that they haven’t used the response games they did have in those key adversity moments to string 4, 5, 6 wins together in a row. Every 2-3 games, we needed another "response game" or "players' only meeting."
In my opinion, this all goes back to Dec. 1, Dilly’s 1,000th game, when we really started to see this team's ability to respond not have any substance, and this is “How we got here":
- CBJ: Dilly was injured in 1,000th GP, and life was evidently sucked out of this team with an uncharacteristic 2-goal blown lead. However, we did see a "physical response," so everyone was willing to let this one slide as an "emotional loss" and see how the boys would follow it up...
- DAL & VGK: But, they followed it up with two embarrassing B2B shutout losses at home.
- BOS: Then, they followed that up with a 4-1 loss to a BOS team that was missing Pastrnak and McAvoy.
- OTT – "ONE-GAME RESPONSE" – Finally, the Devils snapped their 5-game losing streak with a 4-3 W, thanks to outstanding efforts both at 5v5 and from Marky in the second half of the game.
- TBL: But again, they couldn’t follow it up. Another "no-show" loss at home following a big win, as the Devils conceded 8 goals and were "outclassed" by the Bolts in every area of the game.
- ANA – "ONE-GAME RESPONSE" – Despite a depleted lineup, the Devils had one of their better efforts of the season against a very good team and got right back in the W column. Another game that should have been a catalyst for a win streak…
- VAN: Once it was made known that Quinn was available, the Devils looked to make a deal, but fell short to MIN. Hours after the trade, you have a home game against VAN — sitting last in the NHL at the time and having just traded their Captain — and the Devils failed to take advantage of such a fragile situation. Dilly scores on himself, and they lose 2-1. Can’t happen.
- VGK & UTA – "TWO-GAME RESPONSE" – With Jack and other key pieces nearing a return, this was looking like a real turning point for the Devils. You had a response and win two in a row on the road, but…
- BUF: You then get all three key pieces back in the lineup at once — Jack, Timo, and Grits, and Jack scores on his first shot… But that was it. I think everyone, including myself, thought this moment was going to be a catalyst for the Devils to get going again, especially after winning two in a row on the road. But instead, it turned into a four-game winless streak.
- NYI: Siegs and Marky had a mishap, the Devils have a bad bounce go against them late in the 3rd, and they don’t get a point out of a critical divisional game they dominated.
- WSH: Coming out of the break, this game was there for the taking, and looked to be an emotional CBW after two quick goals to take a 3-2 lead in the 3rd. Then, somehow, they leave Ovi wide open for the GTG and lose in OT.
- TOR: You have a completely inexcusable “no-show” shutout loss again, even after your Captain fights out of his weight class to wake you up.
- CBJ – "3rd PERIOD RESPONSE" – This was a big one. Everyone knew the Devils needed to win in this game heading into the New Year, or change was likely going to happen. After 40 minutes of lifeless hockey, you pull off a 2-minute miracle CBW in the third, and you think that’s the game that’s going to finally send you on your way for 2026.
- UTA – "ONE-GAME RESPONSE" – The Devils followed it up with a great effort and a 4-1 W at home to start the New Year, Dougie snapped his goal drought, and everyone’s finally seeming to feel good about their game. This validated the 3rd period CBW in Columbus, but it didn’t last long.
- CAR: This is where the wheels, unfortunately, fall off for Luke, and the fans boo him for half the game. I still can’t even believe I had to experience that. The game was 2-1 with five PP opportunities to tie the game, and you’re relying on Luke to help tie the game. What was going on?!?!
- NYI: And just when I thought that CAR game was absolute rock bottom, the Devils somehow kept digging. You lose 9-0, and everyone is expecting people to be fired.
So, here we are, officially at Rock Bottom. Teams in situations like this rarely survive very long without significant changes.
Having said that, these next three games coming up are going to be make-or-break, as the Devils are probably going to be given this road trip as one last Hail Mary to show any type of life and hope.
It’s now or never for this team to show what it is made of, or, unfortunately, I feel things for the team will not be the same going into the home game vs. Seattle next week.
Be sure to join Rachel and me at 6:30 p.m., as we chat about it all live on tonight's pregame show. LGD.
-Sal
