The New Jersey Devils arrived on Long Island Tuesday night, aiming to jumpstart their offense and reverse a troubling trend against the New York Islanders. The two Metropolitan Division foes squared off at UBS Arena at 7:30 p.m. ET, with the Devils holding a 22-18-2 record and sitting sixth in the division, while the Islanders, at 23-15-4, occupied second place. Both teams were looking to solidify their playoff positions in the thick of the NHL’s Eastern Conference race.
The Devils, still stinging from a 3-1 home loss to the Carolina Hurricanes, entered the contest with a sense of urgency. That defeat saw New Jersey concede a goal less than a minute into the game before clawing back to tie things up, only for Carolina to pull ahead in the second period and ice the game with a third-period insurance marker. Despite matching the Hurricanes in shots (29 apiece) and out-hitting them 22-16, the Devils struggled on special teams, going 0-for-5 on the power play while successfully killing all three penalties they faced. Faceoffs were another sore spot, as the Devils dropped 33 of 59 draws.
Injury woes continued to dog New Jersey. The Devils’ lineup was missing key contributors, with Evgenii Dadonov, Johnathan Kovacevic, Zack MacEwen, Simon Nemec, and Marc McLaughlin all on injured reserve. Offensive production remained a challenge—New Jersey ranked just 29th in scoring, though their defensive numbers were more respectable, tied for 12th in goals against. Jesper Bratt continued to pace the squad, leading in both assists and total points, while goaltender Jake Allen had posted a 2.55 goals-against average across 22 games, notching 565 saves along the way.
On the other side, the Islanders came in riding the high of a dramatic 4-3 overtime win against the Toronto Maple Leafs. That victory saw New York strike first, fall behind 2-1 after two periods, and then battle back to tie it twice in the third before sealing it in the extra frame. The Isles outshot Toronto 25-21 and edged them in hits, 21-19, but lost the faceoff battle 32-24. Matthew Schaefer emerged as the hero with a two-goal performance, earning first-star honors.
New York, too, was missing significant pieces. The Islanders’ injury list included Bo Horvat (out, lower body), Semyon Varlamov (injured reserve, knee), Pierre Engvall (ankle), Kyle Palmieri (knee), Alexander Romanov (out for the season, upper body), and Schaefer himself was listed as day-to-day. Still, the Islanders boasted the seventh-best goals-against mark in the league, though their offense lagged at 25th, and their power play was a lowly 29th. Mathew Barzal led the team in assists, while goaltender Ilya Sorokin, returning from a seven-game absence, was expected to start in net. Sorokin had compiled a .909 save percentage with 612 saves and 61 goals allowed this season, ranking 20th among NHL netminders.
Both teams’ recent form suggested a tight, defensive affair. The Devils were 4-5-1 in their last 10 games, with a minus-10 goal differential, and had managed just two wins in their last seven outings. The Islanders, meanwhile, were 5-4-1 over the same span, with a goal differential of zero, but had been inconsistent on both sides of the puck. Bettors noticed the trends: the total had gone under in 10 of New Jersey’s last 11 games, and in seven of the Islanders’ last 10. Notably, the Devils had gone 1-5 in their last six meetings with New York, while the Islanders were 4-2 in their last six overall.
Pre-game odds reflected the close nature of the matchup. As of January 6, the Devils were slight favorites on the moneyline (-122), with the Islanders at +113. The puck line favored the Islanders at +1.5 (-245), while the total for the game was set at 5.5, with the under slightly favored. The consensus among analysts was that this would be a low-scoring, hard-fought contest, with both teams leaning on their defensive structure and hoping for a spark from their special teams.
For the Devils, managing the neutral zone was highlighted as a key to slowing down the Islanders’ transition game. According to team coverage, “Managing the neutral zone will be key for the Devils against the Isles tonight on Long Island.” With their offense sputtering and several top forwards out, New Jersey needed to generate quality chances and execute on the power play—an area where they ranked 13th league-wide, but had recently struggled to convert. Defensive responsibility and discipline were emphasized, especially with the Islanders’ ability to capitalize on turnovers.
Fans tuning in via ESPN+ or the Devils Hockey Network were reminded of the stakes: both teams were jockeying for position as the season’s midpoint approached, and points were at a premium in the tightly packed Metropolitan Division. As the puck dropped at UBS Arena, the energy was palpable—could the Devils snap their skid against New York, or would the Islanders’ home-ice advantage and Sorokin’s return tip the balance?
As the action unfolded, it quickly became clear that the Islanders were in complete control. In a shocking turn of events, New York routed the Devils by a staggering 9-0 margin, dominating every facet of the game. The Islanders’ offense, previously maligned for inconsistency, erupted for nine goals, leaving the Devils shell-shocked and their playoff hopes suddenly in question. The result marked one of the most lopsided defeats in recent memory for New Jersey and sent a jolt through the Metropolitan standings.
While the Islanders’ injury list remained long, their depth players stepped up in spectacular fashion, capitalizing on turnovers and creating high-danger chances with relentless forechecking. Sorokin, back between the pipes, delivered a flawless performance, turning aside every Devils shot to record the shutout. For New Jersey, the loss underscored the challenges facing a banged-up roster and an offense that simply couldn’t find answers against a surging opponent.
“We have to be better in every area,” a visibly frustrated Devils player was quoted as saying post-game. “This isn’t acceptable, and we know it. We’ll regroup and come back stronger.”
The decisive victory lifted the Islanders further up the Eastern Conference ladder and injected new confidence into a team that had been searching for consistency. As for the Devils, the road ahead suddenly looks steeper, with injuries mounting and the offense in desperate need of a spark. The Metropolitan Division remains a dogfight, and both teams know there’s little margin for error as the season grinds on.
With the Islanders’ emphatic win, UBS Arena was rocking, and the home fans had plenty to cheer about. The Devils, meanwhile, are left to pick up the pieces and prepare for their next challenge, hoping to right the ship before their playoff aspirations slip further from reach.
