New Jersey Devils News

Head coach Sheldon Keefe wasn't lying when he said he wanted to give Markstrom a chance to keep his momentum going, as he tasks the 36-year-old with starting both ends of New Jersey's back-to-back. Markstrom was excellent in last night's start against the Panthers, allowing just a single goal on 21 shots enroute to a 5-1 victory. The Devils enter Wednesday's contest as -117 home favourites against a reeling Maple Leafs team that has been outscored 17-7 since returning from the Olympic break (0-3-1).

Brett Pesce (lower body) will not play on Wednesday, allowing Kovacevic to re-enter the lineup. The 31-year-old Kovacevic is averaging 16:43 time-on-ice and has two assists in 13 games this season.

Pesce played 22:04 time-on-ice in Tuesday's 5-1 win over the Florida Panthers, but will not be available on Wednesday against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The 31-year-old defenseman is averaging 20:18 time-on-ice and has seven points (1G / 6A) in 37 games this season. Johnathan Kovacevic will draw into the lineup as Pesce's replacement.

The Devils have won two straight games with Jacob Markstrom between the pipes and will hope the team's momentum can carry over to Allen when he tends the twine on Wednesday against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Despite a four-game losing streak (0-4-0), the 35-year-old Allen has played serviceably, posting a 2.85 GAA and .892 SV%. The Devils enter Wednesday's contest as -117 home favourites against a reeling Maple Leafs team that has been outscored 17-7 since returning from the Olympic break (0-3-1).

Markstrom has struggled with consistency this season, but is in the midst of his best streak so far. Dating back to before the Olympic break, the 36-year-old goalie has strung together four consecutive quality starts for the first time in 2025-26 (2-2-0), posting an impressive 2.02 GAA and .931 SV%. He saved 25 of 26 shots (.962 SV%) in his most recent outing, a 3-1 win over the St. Louis Blues. That said, the Devils enter Tuesday's action as slight +105 home underdogs against a Florida Panthers team on a two-game losing streak (0-2-0).

Markstrom has struggled with consistency this season, but is in the midst of his best streak so far. Dating back to before the Olympic break, the 36-year-old goalie has strung together four consecutive quality starts for the first time in 2025-26 (2-2-0), posting an impressive 2.02 GAA and .931 SV%. He saved 25 of 26 shots (.962 SV%) in his most recent outing, a 3-1 win over the St. Louis Blues. That said, the Devils enter Tuesday's action as slight +105 home underdogs against a Florida Panthers team on a two-game losing streak (0-2-0).

The Devils drafted Melovsky in the sixth round of the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. The 21-year-old Czech forward is in his first professional season in North America, where he has 13 points (3G / 10A) through 35 games with the Utica Comets (AHL).

Markstrom will make his first post-Olympic start on Thursday as Jake Allen got the nod in Wednesday's loss to the Sabres. Markstrom has struggled to maintain any sort of consistent form this season, logging a 15-13-1 record and an .882 SV% across 30 appearances. He and the Devils enter action on Thursday as slight underdogs at +130 on the money line.

Jakob Markstrom was busy for Team Sweden at the Olympics and will get some extra rest in New Jersey's return to action, with Allen set to tend the twine on Wednesday against the Buffalo Sabres. The 35-year-old Allen struggled heading into the Olympic break, losing six of his last seven (1-6-0) while posting a subpar 3.08 GAA and .880 SV%. The Devils enter the action on Wednesday as slight -107 home favourites against a Sabres team that defeated them 3-1 in their previous meeting.

Jakob Markstrom was busy for Team Sweden at the Olympics and will get some extra rest in New Jersey's return to action, with Allen set to tend the twine on Wednesday against the Buffalo Sabres. The 35-year-old Allen struggled heading into the Olympic break, losing six of his last seven (1-6-0) while posting a subpar 3.08 GAA and .880 SV%. The Devils enter the action on Wednesday as slight -107 home favourites against a Sabres team that defeated them 3-1 in their previous meeting.

Hughes lost teeth late in the Gold Medal game at the Olympics on Sunday, but returned to action to score in overtime and secure the victory for Team USA. The 24-year-old Hughes has received significant media attention since scoring his historic goal for the Americans, but is expected to be ready to play for New Jersey on Wednesday against the Buffalo Sabres. Hughes has 36 points (12G / 24A) in 36 games and will try to build off the momentum from the Olympics to help the Devils inch closer to playoff contention.

It looked like Markstrom may start on Friday, but Sweden ultimately went back to Filip Gustavsson, in what would turn out to be a loss to Finland. So Markstrom will make his tournament debut today vs. Slovakia, his first international start since last year's World Championships. He was 4-2-0 with a 2.14 GAA and .894 SV% in that tournament and is 15-13-1 with a 3.20 GAA and .882 SV% with the Devils this season.