With Jacob Markstrom out for the rest of the season and Nico Daws confirmed to start on Sunday, it will be Jake Allen in net for the Devils on Saturday. Allen has given up three-plus goals in five straight outings, going 3-1-1 with a 3.35 GAA and .885 SV%. Tonight he'll face a desperate Red Wings team, who he has not faced this season, but Allen is 7-9-0 with a 2.58 GAA and .911 SV% on the road.
Vilen was recalled from Utica (AHL) on Friday and will make his NHL debut on Sunday as the second half of New Jersey's back-to-back. The 23-year-old was the Devils 2025 5th round pick (129th overall) and he has spent the last three seasons in Utica, picking up four goals and 24 points in 59 games this season.
With New Jersey eliminated from the playoff picture, they have recalled 23-year-old defensemen Topias Vilen for the first time from Utica (AHL). If the Finish defender does dress, it will be his first NHL experience after putting up four goals and 24 points in 59 games in 2025-26 with Utica.
The Jets have a game in hand and are four points back of the Nashville Predators for the second Wild Card spot in the Western Conference, and have no margin for error with only five games remaining in their regular season. Hellebuyck has struggled for most of the 2025-26 season, but has given his team a chance on most nights in recent outings. The 32-year-old goalie has won five of his last seven games (5-2-0) while posting a solid 2.16 GAA and .910 SV%. The Jets enter Thursday's contest as slight -103 road underdogs against the St. Louis Blues, whom they defeated 3-2 last month.
The Jets have a game in hand and are four points back of the Nashville Predators for the second Wild Card spot in the Western Conference, and have no margin for error with only five games remaining in their regular season. Hellebuyck has struggled for most of the 2025-26 season, but has given his team a chance on most nights in recent outings. The 32-year-old goalie has won five of his last seven games (5-2-0) while posting a solid 2.16 GAA and .910 SV%. The Jets enter Thursday's contest as slight -103 road underdogs against the St. Louis Blues, whom they defeated 3-2 last month.
Exiting the Olympic break, there was a three-week stretch where Jacob Markstrom played every game for the Devils, but they have relied on Allen more steadily in recent weeks. The 35-year-old Allen saved 26 of 29 shots (.897 SV%) in his previous outing, but was on the losing end of a 4-3 shootout against the Montreal Canadiens. In his last five games (3-1-1), Allen has a 2.76 GAA and .904 SV%. The Devils enter Thursday's contest as slight -102 home underdogs against a Pittsburgh Penguins team that has scored five or more goals in four of their last five games (4-1-0).
Hughes missed 10 games earlier this season due to an injury, and will miss the final four as he prepares to undergo a procedure and get a head start on his off-season recovery. After scoring 47 points and and 44 points in his first two seasons, the 22-year-old Hughes didn't take the offensive leap that some were predicting, ending the 2025-26 campaign with 35 points (6G / 29A) in 68 games.
The Jets remain within reach of the final Wild Card spot in the Western Conference, but with only six games remaining, they will need Hellebuyck to be at his best to give them any hope. After winning consecutive Vezina Trophies, Hellebuyck has had a disappointing 2025-26 season, but he has played better in recent outings. The 32-year-old goalie has won four of his last six (4-2-0), posting a solid 2.18 GAA and .909 SV%. The Jets enter Monday's contest as -167 home favourites against a Seattle Kraken team that has free-fallen out of the playoff race with a 2-6-2 record in their last 10 games.
Allen stopped 29 of 32 shots in the Devils' win over the Capitals on Thursday. He'll make a second straight start and will be looking for his fourth consecutive win tonight vs. the Canadiens. Allen has gone 4-2-0 with a 2.87 GAA and .904 SV% in six starts since the Olympic break. He draws a tough assignment on Saturday, as Montreal comes in riding a seven-game winning streak and have averaged 4.0 goals per game during that stretch.
Allen stopped 29 of 32 shots in the Devils' win over the Capitals on Thursday. He'll make a second straight start and will be looking for his fourth consecutive win tonight vs. the Canadiens. Allen has gone 4-2-0 with a 2.87 GAA and .904 SV% in six starts since the Olympic break. He draws a tough assignment on Saturday, as Montreal comes in riding a seven-game winning streak and have averaged 4.0 goals per game during that stretch.
Exiting the Olympic break, there was a three-week stretch where Jacob Markstrom played every game for the Devils, but they have relied on Allen more steadily in recent weeks, and he will return to the crease on Thursday against the Washington Capitals for the fifth time in the last 10 games. The 35-year-old Allen was serviceable in his most recent outing, saving 28 of 31 shots (.903 SV%) in a 5-3 win over the Chicago Blackhawks. He was excellent less than two weeks ago in a game against the Capitals, saving 26 of 27 shots (.963 SV%), but did not receive enough goal support in a 2-1 loss. The Devils enter Thursday's contest as slight -107 home favourites.
The Jets remain in contention for a playoff spot and will need Hellebuyck at his best in the final weeks of the season, beginning with Thursday's game against the Dallas Stars. The 32-year-old Hellebuyck didn't need to be impressive while facing only 21 shots (.857 SV%) in Tuesday's 4-3 overtime win over the Chicago Blackhawks. Hellebuyck has had, by his elite standards, a poor 2025-26 season, as evident by the 2.69 GAA and .897 SV% he posted in 14 March games (7-4-3). The three-time Vezina Trophy-winning goalie has posted a sub-.900 SV% in each month this season, except October. The Jets enter Thursday's contest as +143 road underdogs against the Stars.
The Jets remain in contention for a playoff spot and will need Hellebuyck at his best in the final weeks of the season, beginning with Thursday's game against the Dallas Stars. The 32-year-old Hellebuyck didn't need to be impressive while facing only 21 shots (.857 SV%) in Tuesday's 4-3 overtime win over the Chicago Blackhawks. Hellebuyck has had, by his elite standards, a poor 2025-26 season, as evident by the 2.69 GAA and .897 SV% he posted in 14 March games (7-4-3). The three-time Vezina Trophy-winning goalie has posted a sub-.900 SV% in each month this season, except October. The Jets enter Thursday's contest as +143 road underdogs against the Stars.
Gritsyuk suffered an upper-body injury late in Tuesday's 6-4 win over the Dallas Stars and has likely been ruled out for the remainder of the season. The 25-year-old first-year NHLer has eight points (4G / 4A) in his last 10 games, giving him 31 points (13G / 18A) through 66 games this season.
Exiting the Olympic break, there was a three-week stretch where Jacob Markstrom played every game for the Devils, but they have relied on Allen more steadily in recent weeks, and he will return to the crease on Thursday against the Washington Capitals for the fifth time in the last 10 games. The 35-year-old Allen was serviceable in his most recent outing, saving 28 of 31 shots (.903 SV%) in a 5-3 win over the Chicago Blackhawks. He was excellent less than two weeks ago in a game against the Capitals, saving 26 of 27 shots (.963 SV%), but did not receive enough goal support in a 2-1 loss. The Devils enter Thursday's contest as slight -107 home favourites.
The Jets remain in contention for a playoff spot and will need Hellebuyck at his best in the final weeks of the season, beginning with Tuesday's contest against the Chicago Blackhawks. The 32-year-old Hellebuyck was solid in his most recent outing, saving 21 of 23 shots (.913 SV%) in an impressive 4-2 win over the Colorado Avalanche. He has had a largely disappointing 2025-26 season, but he has an excellent 2.00 GAA and .929 SV% in his last three games (2-1-0). The Jets enter Tuesday's contest as -151 road favourites against a Blackhawks team that has been outscored 16-5 in their last three games (0-3-0).
