They didn't.
Well, it depends on which game you’re looking at, but if we’re talking about the most recent heart-stopper against the Washington Capitals on January 17, 2026, the New Jersey Devils came up just short in a 4-3 overtime loss. It was a grinder. Honestly, the kind of game that makes you want to put your head through a wall if you’re a fan, especially given how many chances Jack Hughes created in the third period.
Hockey is a game of inches, and right now, the Devils are playing in millimeters.
When people search for "did the Devils win," they’re usually looking for more than just a box score score. They want to know if the rebuild is finally, actually, for-real over, or if the goaltending is going to revert to the shaky days of years past. Since the start of the 2025-26 season, the Devils have been a bit of a paradox. They look like world-beaters on Tuesday and then look like they’ve forgotten how to clear the zone on Thursday. It’s exhausting.
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The Breakdown: Why the Devils Fell Short Yesterday
The game against the Capitals was a classic Metropolitan Division slog. New Jersey entered the night with a decent bit of momentum, but the power play—which has been their bread and butter—went 0-for-4. You just can't do that in this league. Not against a veteran team that knows how to clog the neutral zone.
Lindy Ruff’s system demands speed. When the puck movement slows down, the whole engine stalls. In the second period, there was a specific sequence where Nico Hischier forced a turnover, fed it to Bratt, and Bratt hit the post. If that goes in, the narrative changes. Instead, Washington took it back the other way, drew a penalty, and scored on the man advantage.
- Final Score: 4-3 (OT)
- Goal Scorers: Meier, Mercer, Hughes (J)
- SOG: NJ 34, WSH 29
- The Deciding Factor: A defensive lapse at the 2:14 mark of overtime that left Ovechkin (yes, he’s still doing it) wide open in the circle.
It’s those small mistakes. You see it in the underlying metrics. According to Natural Stat Trick, the Devils actually controlled 58% of the expected goals (xG) at five-on-five. They dominated the play. They just didn't win.
The Goaltending Question: Is it Fixed?
Let’s be real for a second. Goaltending has been the Achilles' heel of this franchise since Cory Schneider’s hips gave out. This season, they’ve leaned heavily on their current rotation, trying to find that "true" number one.
In the loss to Washington, the saves that needed to be made... mostly were. But that overtime goal? That's a shot a top-tier starter has to swallow. Fans are divided. Half the Twitter-verse is screaming for a trade-deadline blockbuster, while the other half thinks the defense is leaving the netminder out to dry. Both things can be true at once.
The reality is that New Jersey's defensive structure under the current coaching staff is high-event. They trade chances. They bet on outscoring their problems. When you have Jack Hughes, that's a decent bet. But when the goals dry up for a night, the spotlight shines very brightly on the guy standing between the pipes.
Current Standing in the Metro
As of late January 2026, the Devils are sitting in a Wild Card spot. It’s tight. The Rangers are surging, and Carolina is being Carolina—basically a puck-possession machine that never sleeps.
- Carolina Hurricanes (Leading the pack)
- New York Rangers (Hot on their heels)
- New York Islanders (Grinding out wins)
- New Jersey Devils (Fighting for that 4th/Wild Card spot)
If they want to move up, they have to stop losing games where they outshoot the opponent by double digits. It’s a recurring theme. You look at the game against Philly earlier this month—same story. Total dominance, zero points.
Key Players: Who is Stealing the Show?
Jack Hughes is currently playing at an MVP level. There is no other way to put it. His skating edge work is probably the best in the NHL right now, maybe alongside McDavid. When he’s on the ice, the gravity of the game shifts toward him.
Then you have Luke Hughes on the back end. He’s taking more risks this year. Some of them lead to highlight-reel assists, and some lead to odd-man rushes going the other way. That’s the "Luke Hughes Experience." You take the good with the bad because the "good" is generational talent.
Timo Meier has finally found his rhythm, too. After a rocky start to his tenure in Jersey, he’s playing that heavy, power-forward game that the team desperately needs to complement their smaller, faster skill players. He’s been parked in front of the net, causing havoc and picking up "greasy" goals.
Why "Did the Devils Win" is Trending So Often
The Devils have become one of the most "watchable" teams in the league. People who aren't even fans of the team are tuning in because the pace of play is insane. It's track-meet hockey.
Because they are so volatile, the result is never a given. They could be down 3-0 in the first and win 6-4. Or they could lead 4-1 and lose in a shootout. This unpredictability drives search volume. Everyone wants to know if the "Cardiac Kids" pulled it off again.
Misconceptions About the Team
One thing people get wrong is thinking this team is "soft." They aren't the 2000s Devils with Scott Stevens handing out concussions, sure. But they aren't pushovers. Guys like Curtis Lazar and Nathan Bastian provide a level of grit that often goes unnoticed in the box score.
Another myth? That they can't play defense. They actually suppress shots quite well. The problem is the quality of shots they give up. When they turn it over, it’s usually a catastrophic turnover. It’s a breakaway or a 2-on-1. They don't give up a lot, but what they do give up is dangerous.
Moving Forward: What to Watch For
The schedule doesn't get any easier. They have a California road trip coming up, which used to be a "get right" trip but isn't anymore. San Jose is improved, and the Kings are a nightmare to play against in their own building.
To stay in the playoff hunt, New Jersey needs to find a way to win the "ugly" games. The games where the ice is tilted against them. The games where they don't have their legs. So far this season, they haven't shown they can consistently win those 1-0 or 2-1 defensive battles.
Expert Take: The "Eye Test" vs. The Stats
If you talk to scouts around the league, the consensus is that New Jersey is "one piece away." Usually, that piece is a veteran stay-at-home defenseman who can kill penalties and clear the crease. The analytics guys love them because their puck pursuit is elite. But hockey isn't played on a spreadsheet.
Sometimes you just need a big body to hit someone.
Actionable Steps for Fans and Analysts
Keep a close eye on the injury report. This team's depth is better than it was three years ago, but they still struggle when a key piece like Dougie Hamilton or Hischier misses time.
If you're betting or playing fantasy, look at the home/away splits. The Devils have actually been better on the road lately. Maybe it's the lack of pressure, or maybe they just like the hotel food. Either way, they seem more focused when they aren't at the Prudential Center.
Next Steps for Following the Devils:
- Monitor the Trade Wire: Expect the Devils to be linked to every available defenseman between now and the deadline. They have the prospect capital to make a big move.
- Watch the Power Play Percentages: If this stays below 20%, they won't make it past the first round of the playoffs. It’s the engine of their offense.
- Check the Goalie Starts: See if Ruff starts riding the "hot hand" or sticks to a strict rotation. This will tell you how much trust he has in his starters.
- Follow local beat writers: Guys like James Nichols or Ryan Novozinsky provide context that you won't get from a national broadcast.
The Devils are in a fascinating spot. They have all the talent in the world, a core that is signed long-term, and a fan base that is starving for another deep run. Whether they won last night or not is almost secondary to the larger question: Are they building something that can actually win a Cup?
Right now, the answer is a "maybe," leaning toward "yes." But they have to stop beating themselves first. Every time you ask "did the Devils win," you're checking the pulse of a team that is right on the edge of greatness but still occasionally trips over its own feet.
Stay tuned to the late-night West Coast scores over the next week. That’s where the season will likely be decided. If they can sweep the California trip, they’ll be in a prime position to lock down a top-three spot in the Metro. If they stumble? It's going to be a very long, very nervous spring in Newark.
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Check the lineup for the next game against the Anaheim Ducks. If the energy is there from the first whistle, they’ll be fine. If they start slow again, expect another "did the Devils win" search to end in disappointment. It’s all about the start. It always has been with this group.
Watch the tape, look at the shot charts, and don't get too high or too low. That’s the only way to survive being a Devils fan in 2026.