Thanks for spending New Year's Eve with us, Devils Fans!
Let's end 2025 the right way, with some goals and a W tonight in Columbus!
PROCESS NEED RESULTS!!!!
A couple of games ago, I discussed the question “Does the process matter?”
And, well, yes, it absolutely does in the NHL. But in this case, with the Devils, we have gotten to the point where the process no longer matters unless it turns into goals and results.
It doesn’t matter who does it or how it happens; it just needs to happen!!! Jake Allen could have a hat trick tonight for all I care! 😂 
END 2025 ON A HIGH!
The lack of success the Devils had in calendar year 2025 was shocking, to be quite frank. Nobody - and I mean nobody - could have predicted the Devils would score goals at the lowest rate in the league and be a .500 team, not only considering the talent this team has, but also the way they started the first half of both last season and this season. It has been perplexing, to say the least.
But, with all that said, 2025 will be in the past in a matter of hours, and the only thing you can do about it now is end on a high note so that you can go into 2026 feeling good about yourself with a fresh mindset. Again, it comes down to one thing: SCORE MORE GOALS!!!!
GET EMOTIONS OUT OF THE WAY EARLY
Hopefully, if there is still something lingering from that chaotic, emotional loss to CBJ on Dec. 1, it gets taken care of in the first period. Believe me, I loved the Wolfpack mentality we saw from the Devils in that situation after what happened to Dilly in his 1,000th GP, but you can't let 2 PTS slip away again twice due to this incident (especially against a divisional opponent). The focus is on playing hockey and closing out 2025 with a W!
WERENSKI ON IR
After failing to take advantage of a depleted TOR team last night, the Devils get another opportunity to play a team missing a star player, as CBJ will be without Zach Werenski for a 5th straight game tonight. Unfortunately, CBJ has won three consecutive games without him. Still, you have to take advantage of a situation like this and not squander it away like you did not only against Toronto (missing Matthews, Nylander, Joshua, Tanev), but also Boston (missing Pastrnak & McAvoy), Islanders (missing Sorokin, Horvat, Palmieri), Buffalo (Fired their GM), and Vancouver (Traded away Quinn Hughes).
Werenski had points in 12 straight home games (9-13–22 PTS) before going down on Dec. 20, so this is prime time to capitalize on an opportunity.
MARCHMENT'S IMMEDIATE IMPACT
The change of scenery is paying dividends for Mason Marchment so far, as he has points in all 4 GP with CBJ (3-2–5 PTS in 4 GP) since being acquired from SEA on Dec. 19.
Join Rachel and me for tonight's pregame show as we discuss the Devils' lack of scoring in greater detail and preview tonight's game vs. CBJ. Happy New Year, everyone!
-Sal
Here are some additional graphics from last night's broadcast!
