The New Jersey Devils may have lost 5-2 to the Detroit Red Wings on Wednesday night, but the result was hardly the story. Most of the Devils’ regulars were given the night off as the team looked to stay fresh ahead of their upcoming first-round playoff matchup with the Carolina Hurricanes. The headline, however, was the return of defenseman Dougie Hamilton, who played for the first time since mid-March after missing 18 games with a lower-body injury.
Hamilton logged over 23 minutes of ice time, including shifts on both the penalty kill and power play. He registered four shots, four blocked shots, and looked calm under pressure. “It was great to be back out there,” Hamilton said postgame. “The legs felt good. Now it’s about ramping things up for the playoffs.”
Detroit Strikes First and Controls the Tempo
Detroit got on the board late in the first period through Jonatan Berggren, who capitalized on a misplayed breakout pass to beat Nico Daws top shelf. Earlier, Vladimir Tarasenko had a would-be opening goal reversed after New Jersey successfully challenged for goalie interference.
The Red Wings doubled their lead in the second period thanks to a sharp-angle shot from J.T. Compher that deflected off Daws’ shoulder. Captain Dylan Larkin made it 3-0 early in the third, scoring his 30th goal of the season—a mark he’s hit for the third time in his career.
Devils Rally Briefly Behind Haula and Mercer
Despite trailing 3-0, the Devils showed fight midway through the third period. Erik Haula redirected a Daniel Sprong point shot on the power play to put New Jersey on the board. Just three minutes later, Dawson Mercer finished off a rebound to bring the Devils within one.
However, New Jersey’s momentum was short-lived. A turnover during a four-on-four situation led to an Alex DeBrincat tally that made it 4-2. Marco Kasper later added an empty-net goal to seal the 5-2 final.
Depth Players Make Their Case
While the loss was expected with so many starters sitting out, several Devils depth players made a strong impression. Daniel Sprong was especially active, recording five shots on goal and assisting on Haula’s goal. Mike Hardman also had a solid showing on the top line, collecting an assist and throwing several key hits.
Justin Dowling looked sharp defensively, holding up well against Detroit’s top-six forwards and killing penalties effectively. Nolan Foote was more physical than in previous games, while defenseman Brenden Dillon formed a steady partnership with Hamilton.
Areas of Concern Ahead of the Postseason
Not every Devil fared well, though. Curtis Lazar remained quiet in limited ice time, while the defensive pairing of Dennis Cholowski and Seamus Casey struggled mightily, surrendering two goals and looking out of sync throughout.
Looking Ahead to Carolina
Despite the loss, Coach Sheldon Keefe was clear about the game’s purpose: “It wasn’t about the score tonight. It was about seeing who’s ready for playoff hockey.”
With their stars rested and Dougie Hamilton back in the fold, the Devils now turn their full focus to the postseason—and a high-stakes battle with the Hurricanes.
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