The red carpet was out for the 2024-2025 New Jersey Devils. After a week of practice and ample time to rest after the Global Series, the new-look Devils were received by droves of excited fans packed outside Prudential Center. Newark was a hockey town for the evening with fans eagerly waiting to greet the new and returning faces as they arrived one by one at the red carpet entrance. Since the start of training camp, this Devils team has been advertised as a must-see, bound to be a success, and the fans confirmed their anticipation with their commanding presence on opening night. Their eagerness to support the Devils and get the new season officially underway in Newark was on full display. 

Tom Fitzgerald’s new and improved team may have looked the part off the ice, but once the puck dropped, the new look faded fast, and fans were left with little to cheer for.

When looking at the box score, it’s hard to envision the flat and sluggish performance that froze the home team on opening night. New Jersey led in shots, hits, and face-off wins. They had three more power play opportunities than Toronto, with five in total. However, blocked shots and giveaways pestered the Devils all night. Yes, the Devils had trouble getting shots through at times, but an overall lack of continuity was the key takeaway in last night’s home opener.

The Maple Leafs completely smothered the Devils in all three zones, forcing New Jersey to chase very quickly and throughout the majority of the game. Now, the Devils did get their legs, finding their edge as the game went on, and they made it interesting with late goals in the first two periods. However, the lack of flow in all three zones completely derailed any effort for a comeback. Whenever New Jersey started to press, or a power play opportunity presented itself, a bad read, a lackluster turnover, a bad angle, or poor passing would get in the way. These instances completely hindered the Devil’s chances last night. It’s hard enough to compete with a team as talented and dangerous as the Toronto Maple Leafs, but it’s even more challenging when a team gets in their own way in the process. The Devils had to find a way around themselves and the opposition last night. Whenever that occurs, a winning result is very hard to come by.

The red carpet festivities, player arrivals, and introductions were terrific. The playoff-esque “made in Jersey” red towels were a nice addition. To all the fans waiting for it all to come together, hang tight. The Devils are a better team than what was presented last night, they just are. They got in their own way, and it was expected to happen at some point, but the fact that it happened on opening night amplifies everything.

Credit to the Toronto Maple Leafs and their efforts. No team in the National Hockey League will be handing New Jersey anything. This Devils team has to learn how to grab and hold onto success. It is not an overnight occurrence. They’re three games in with seventy-nine to go. Lots of hockey remains. 

The Result: The New Jersey Devils lost to the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-2.

The Game Stats: NHL.com Game Summary, NHL.com Full Play-By-Play, NHL.com Shot Report, Natural Stat Trick Game Stats

The Game Highlights: NHL.com Video Recap

First Period:

Entering the first period I was excited to see The Rock packed and hopping with fans of the black and red. I was also interested in how Toronto’s starting goaltender, Dennis Hildeby, would perform in his NHL debut.

Both teams were feeling each other out to begin the period. The Devils defended well and kept the puck out of their defensive zone. The Devils executed clean breakouts and applied some good offensive zone pressure, although that pressure did not necessarily translate into shots or scoring opportunities.

Around the 14-minute mark, Toronto kicked their game into gear and the momentum shifted. With just over 13 minutes remaining in the period, Mitch Marner fed Auston Matthews in the slot and Matthews ripped a shot off the post. It was Toronto’s first real scoring chance of the game, but it would not be the last. From this point on the Maple Leafs smothered the Devils and kept them hemmed up in their defensive zone for most of the period.

With 11:42 remaining in the first period, a failed clearing attempt led to a shot by Conor Timmins from the point. Jacob Markstrom stopped the initial shot (or it was blocked), but Max Pacioretty put home the bouncing rebound.

Just over three minutes later, Bobby McMann took a shot from the circle that found its way to the back of the Devils’ net. Seamus Casey had just collided with Marner in front of the net and may have screened Markstrom, but either way, it was a shot that Markstrom probably would like to have back.

With just over five minutes remaining in the period, the Leafs struck again. Dougie Hamilton pinched at the offensive blue line, but the Leafs escaped their defensive zone and started a fast break the other way. Brenden Dillon forced the puck behind the Devils’ goal line, but the Leaf’s forecheck produced a loose puck in the slot. Three Devils could not get a stick on the puck and Toronto centerman Steven Lorentz backhanded the puck into the top corner over Markstrom. 3-0.

At 17:59 in the first, Toronto’s John Tavares was called for interfering with Erik Haula. The bright spot of the period for the Devils came on the ensuing power play. Jack Hughes shoveled the puck into traffic in front of the Leafs’ net. A clearing attempt by Toronto forward Pontus Holmberg was stopped by Jesper Bratt, who wired a wrist shot home.

The Devils officially posted nine shots in the first period, but it felt like these shots were “one and done” or isolated offensive chances instead of the sustained offensive zone pressure. The first period ended 3-1.

Second Period

I’d like to say the Devils carried the momentum from Bratt’s power play goal into the second period, but that was not the case. At 16:54, Dillon was called for a trip as he was being passed by Jake McCabe. With the chance to really put this game away, the Devils’ penalty kill, another bright spot in this game, stepped up. The Devils did not allow a shot while Dillon was in the box and Dawson Mercer looked particularly strong pressuring the puck and disrupting passing lanes.

The Devils carried some momentum out of that penalty kill and it felt like they might be able to build on it. Simon Nemec hit the post with a shot from the point. With just over 11 minutes remaining in the period, Casey walked down from his position at the point to rip a shot wide of the net. Unfortunately for the Devils, the shot ricocheted around and created a fast break opportunity for the Kampf line in the Devils’ end. Fortunately, Markstrom stepped up and made a series of big saves to keep the Devils in the game.

At 9:43, Bastian drew an interference call on Timmins sending the Devils to a power play. Unlike their first opportunity, the Devils could not capitalize and had all their shot attempts blocked on this power play. The Devils would have another chance to redeem the power play just moments after Timmins was released from the box when Simon Benoit was called for a trip. The Devils were able to get some shots on net in this power play. Bratt almost set up Timo Meier with a tip in at the back door, but Meier was unable to bang it home.

At 5:08, the Leafs chipped a puck out of their defensive end and through the neutral zone. Max Domi was able to gather the puck on the sideboard and slide it over to Tavares cutting through the middle of the ice. Nemec was caught cheating too close to Domi and the sideboards leaving Tavares one-on-one with Mercer. Tavares stick-handled through Mercer and beat Markstrom with a wrist shot.

That was a dagger. Through the two power plays for the Devils, it looked again like New Jersey might be able to create some momentum only to have it stolen.

The boys kept battling though. With just seconds left to go in the period, Hughes created a fast break when a Leafs’ defenseman broke his stick at the Devils’ blue line. In the ensuing offensive possession, Johnathan Kovacevic passed to Meier, who had been calling for the puck while streaking toward the slot, and Meier was able to beat Hildeby with a hard wrister with just 5.3 seconds left in the period.

The period ended 4-2.

Just when you thought the Devils might gain some traction, the Leafs stifled it with their fourth goal. The Devils continued to fight until the end of the period and finally had some sustained pressure on Toronto in the last minute and a half of play in the period, but they just couldn’t seem to generate enough.

Third Period

The third period was the same as the second, unfortunately. The Devils were awarded a power play when Benoit and Meier got into some extracurriculars following a big hit by Meier. The power play unit was buzzing but was unable to score.

The penalty kill continued to be a bright spot in the game as they successfully fought off a penalty to Mercer for high sticking later in the third period. The Devils were even able to create some offensive looks while on the penalty kill and controlled the puck for the opening 30 seconds of Toronto’s power play.

The Devils had one last power play opportunity with just over five minutes to go in the game when William Nylander was called for holding. I thought Nylander could have been given an additional penalty for slapping the puck in frustration following the whistle, but that was not called. In the power play that followed the Devils were just off. The zone entries were a struggle and the communication on passing plays seemed poor.

Following an uneventful third period, the Devils ultimately fell to the Maple Leafs 4-2.

Trouble Establishing Their Game

Once Toronto established their game, the Leafs were able to disrupt the Devils’ breakouts and gained significant offensive zone time. The line giving the Devils the most trouble throughout tonight’s game was not the Matthews line or Tavares line, but the Leafs’ bottom six. Troubling considering one doesn’t expect to hold the Matthews line down for long, especially when Matthews has had such success against the Devils in the past. The Leafs’ line of Bobby McMann, David Kampf, and Steven Lorentz recorded two of the four goals and two assists in the game.

Missing the Third Line Magic

One line that didn’t have quite the impact that it did against the Sabres was the line of Ondrej Palat, Erik Haula, and Stefan Noesen. The forecheck and offensive zone pressure that they were able to create against Buffalo just was not there tonight and I think the Devils missed that. The Devils really need the sustained offensive zone pressure that the third line can generate, not to mention the traffic in front of the net. Noesen’s line did elevate their play in the third period, but it was too little too late.

Too Much Time Off?

The Devils had not played in five days following their Global Series in Prague and it seemed to play a factor. Toronto seemed to find their legs first and the Devils had to catch up. The communication and passing plays in all areas from the breakouts to the power play seemed rusty tonight and not as crisp as the play we saw on October 5th. The Devils had an abbreviated preseason followed by two games and an extended break. Perhaps that played a role in why the Devils looked a little out of sync tonight.

Bright Spots

Despite how much we wanted them to, the Devils were never going to win all 82 games. There will be ups and downs as in any season and there were some positive takeaways from tonight’s game. The penalty kill looks great and I thought Mercer was especially solid tonight. They pressure the puck and are relentless.

I liked Hamilton and Kovacevic played on defense tonight. As the broadcast mentioned tonight, Dougie was very physical and laid some big hits. He is excellent at getting shots on net through whatever traffic is in front of him and the net. Kovacevic assisted on Meier’s goal and even showed off some of his handles while jumping in offensively tonight. He is looking like a steal for general manager Tom Fitzgerald.

The line that jumped out to me for the Devils was the fourth line of Paul Cotter, Curtis Lazar, and Nathan Bastian. The line applied some pressure on the forecheck and played physically. The “Meat and Mitts” line, as the MSG broadcast named them, created some sustained offensive zone pressure, but too often it did not result in enough shots on net.

Your Thoughts

Were you at the game tonight? What were your takeaways? Was there too long of a break? Who stood out to you? Let us know in the comments below. Thank you for reading and as always, GO DEVILS!