As Season Winds Down, Devils Continue To Learn Harsh Lessons
Speechless.
Mar 20, 2025; Newark, New Jersey, USA; Calgary Flames left wing Jonathan Huberdeau (10) (not pictured) scores a goal on New Jersey Devils goaltender Jacob Markstrom (25) during the third period at Prudential Center. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-Imagn ImagesNew Jersey Devils defenseman Brenden Dillon spoke to reporters for four minutes after his team's 5-3 loss to the Calgary Flames on Thursday night. His team's performance in the third period left the veteran speechless and in disbelief, as he fielded questions about the Devils' collapse.
"We have talked enough about it," he said. "We know how the Columbus game finished. I am speechless. We were up two (goals). We have to be confident in that situation. We want to be a good team. We are going to be a good team, hopefully through the last (stretch of games) going into the playoffs. Every goal is self-inflicted stuff. Our mindset has to be that we are going to out-compete that team for the entire 60 minutes."
The Devils entered the final frame with a 3-1 lead over the Flames. New Jersey allowed four unanswered goals and suffered its 27th regulation loss of the season.
"We have the wrong mindset," Nico Hischier said. "We have to embrace their (third period) push and be ready for it. I think we were a bit too scared out there to make mistakes. If you have that mindset, that is when mistakes happen."
The Devils have 12 games remaining before the playoffs begin. At a time when many expect teams to work through their final hiccups, New Jersey's players find themselves still learning lessons.
"It is sad to say we are learning lessons at Game 70, 71, but I feel like that is what we have to take out of this," Dillon continued. " You either win or you learn."
Entering Thursday's game, the Devils were 30-0-2 with a lead entering the third period. The trend of giving up late goals is new, and it even caught head coach Sheldon Keefe by surprise.
"It caught me off guard, quite honestly," he said. "This hasn't been an issue for us all season long."
While the Devils remain in possession of the third spot in the Metropolitan Division, the team has limited time to resolve its current issues. With an expectation that their first-round playoff matchup will be against the Carolina Hurricanes, New Jersey can't afford to continue to make the self-inflected errors that have occurred in the past two games.
The Devils' next game will be Saturday against the Ottawa Senators. Fans can watch on MSGSN and MSGSN2 or listen on the Devils Hockey Network.