March 8, 2026; Newark, New Jersey, USA; New Jersey Devils defenseman Brendan Dillon (5) moves the puck as Detroit Red Wings center Andrew Cobb (18) approaches during the first period at Prudential Center. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Salus-Imagn Image The playoffs don’t seem to be in the cards for the New Jersey Devils this season, but at least they’re playing well in their longest home stretch of the season.
Meanwhile, roads continue to be an issue for the lowly Calgary Flames.
The Devils will be looking to snap a five-game losing streak to the Flames on Thursday night in Newark, New Jersey, as they look to bounce back after a four-game winning streak ended.
New Jersey entered Wednesday’s game 12 points out of the Eastern Conference’s final wild-card spot. But the Devils are 3-1-0 in seven home games despite losing 3-0 to Detroit on Sunday.
“It’s always nice to be in my own building, in my own comfortable environment,” defenseman Brendan Dillon told the Devils’ team website. “It was really nice.”
The Devils have scored a total of 18 goals during their four-game winning streak and have had at least 30 shots on goal in each of their last six contests. But they were stymied by a talented Detroit club currently in a playoff position in the East.
“Every game is harder this time of year,” Dillon added. “There is less space. That point is more important… New levels are discovered in such games. It is more difficult to play in such games. We have to understand that.”
Olympic hero Jack Hughes hasn’t amassed the hat trick and assists he recorded during the Devils’ 6-3 win over the New York Rangers on Saturday, but he has nine points in seven games since scoring the gold-medal-winning goal for the United States at the Milan Cortina Games.
New Jersey’s Jacob Markstrom allowed three goals for the third straight game on Sunday. Teammate Jake Allen has given up two goals in each of his last two appearances but hasn’t started since Feb. 25.
Markstrom stopped 21 of 22 shots and Hughes assisted on Simon Nemec’s overtime goal for the Devils’ 2-1 win in Calgary on Jan. 19.
The Flames, who sit second to last in the West, have scored just 12 goals while stuck in a 1-5-1 rut. They fell to 0-3-1 on the road in that span after losing 4-0 to the New York Rangers on Tuesday.
“(Tuesday) we were making plays to take our chances,” said Calgary’s Morgan Frost, second on the team with 32 points.
“We just have to find a way to get the puck in the net. It’s not an easy league to score. Just keep working. We’re doing good work. I think it will come someday.”
Calgary has also allowed at least four goals in each of the last five contests.
The Flames’ Dustin Wolf made 25 saves on Tuesday but has given up four goals in each of his last three starts. Teammate Devin Cooley (2.45 goals-against average) gave up a season-high six goals during Monday’s 7-3 loss at Washington.
Along with Nazem Kadri, who currently plays at Colorado, Mikael Backlund is the Flames’ leader with 36 points. However, he has scored just one goal in his last seven games.
–Field level media
