Devils Postgame
Devils Fumble First Playoff-Clinching Chance; Embarrassed By Last-Place Bruins
The Devils fumbled their first opportunity to clinch their spot in the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs as the lowly Bruins ring up Jacob Markstrom for seven goals.
NEWARK—Did anyone tell the New Jersey Devils they could clinch their spot in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, even with a single point, on Tuesday night?
Certainly, they didn’t appear prepared to play, falling to the Boston Bruins, who were 1-8-1 in their last 10 games heading into the contest.
The Devils didn’t get off to the best start in the first five minutes of the game. They were a bit slow-footed and disjointed, leading to a couple of chances for the Bruins in New Jersey’s end. Boston’s first chance rang the iron. Then, Jacob Markstrom kept the game scoreless early after Nikita Zadorov’s shot from the blue line was redirected and the Swedish netminder was able to get a pad on the puck and quickly covered up.
The momentum eventually shifted, however. Seamus Casey began to lead a breakout from New Jersey’s end of the ice. He drew a hook on Jakub Lauko in the process, signaling the first power play of the game. Despite putting five shots on goal amid their man advantage, Jeremy Swayman stood tall to keep the game scoreless.
With the Bruins back at full power, Luke Hughes began to transition the puck from the defensive end to the neutral zone. However, David Pastrnak pressured on the forecheck, stripping Hughes of the puck and the Bruins’ leading scorer gave Boston a 1-0 lead.
Pastrnak’s 41st goal of the season was also the 12th consecutive Bruins goal he’s factored in on, a feat only previously accomplished by Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, and Jaromir Jagr.
As time wound down in the opening frame, Michael Callahan’s shot from the point made its way through traffic and past Markstrom to give the Bruins a 2-0 lead heading into the first intermission.
It didn’t take long for the Bruins to widen the gap after the puck dropped in the second period. Lauko carried the puck into the offensive zone uncontested and roofed a puck over the left shoulder of Markstrom to extend Boston’s lead to 3-0.
In fact, the Devils didn’t even register their first shot until the 9:13 mark of the middle frame.
The Devils eventually found their legs, however, striking twice quickly to bring themselves within a goal with over 25 minutes remaining in the game.
Stefan Noesen tapped in a Daniel Sprong no-look assist on Swayman’s back door, and then Timo Meier deflected an Erik Haula shot past the Bruins netminder 19 seconds later, making it a 3-2 game.
The Bruins regained their two-goal lead, however. Courtesy of Casey Mittelstadt, the Boston forward’s shot from the point seemed harmless at first. However, it changed directions on Markstrom through traffic, and it was in the back of the net before he could react.
The Bruins went into the second intermission leading 4-2.
Boston’s 4-2 lead was quickly extended just under five minutes into the third period. Pastrnak registered his 100th point of the season, feeding Morgan Geekie his 30th goal of the year on a back door tap in.
Fraser Minten quadrupled the Bruins lead just two minutes later, making it a 6-2 game.
Whereas there was still a buzz in the Prudential Center when the puck dropped, the atmosphere quickly deflated as fans made their way to the exits with 13 minutes left to play.
Still, the Bruins’ onslaught continued. Cole Koepke split both Luke Hughes and Brett Pesce in the offensive zone to face Markstrom alone. The Bruins forward scored Boston’s seventh goal of the night, extending their lead by five goals and spelling the Devils’ loss.
Head coach Sheldon Keefe then pulled Markstrom, ending his night making 16 saves on 23 shots.
Jake Allen made 2/2 saves in relief of Markstrom.
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