The New Jersey Devils’ 2025–26 schedule was released yesterday, and the road ahead is anything but easy. The Devils are tied with the Columbus Blue Jackets for the most back-to-back games in the league this season - 15 in total. That’s a significant hurdle for a team looking to rebound and make a deep playoff push. RIVALRIES TAKE A BACK SEAT…UNTIL MARCH Perhaps the most surprising detail? The Devils won’t face their cross-river rivals, the New York Rangers, until March 8, 2026, a full five months into the season. And they’ll only get one home game against the Rangers all year. All three matchups are crammed into March: * 3/7 vs. Rangers * 3/18 @ Rangers * 3/31 @ Rangers The Devils’ newest play-by-play broadcaster, Don La Greca, who previously covered the Rangers, will have plenty of time to prepare for those emotional matchups. The rivalry shortage doesn’t stop there: New Jersey will only play the Philadelphia Flyers three times this season. THE BRUTAL BACK-TO-BACK LIST Here’s a look at the Devils’ 15 back-to-back series: * Oct. 21 @ Toronto / Oct. 22 vs. Minnesota * Nov. 1 @ Los Angeles / Nov. 2 @ Anaheim * Nov. 28 @ Buffalo / Nov. 29 vs. Philadelphia * Dec. 5 vs. Vegas / Dec. 6 @ Boston * Dec. 13 vs. Anaheim / Dec. 14 vs. Vancouver * Dec. 30 @ Toronto / Dec. 31 @ Columbus * Jan. 3 vs. Utah / Jan. 4 vs. Carolina * Jan. 11 @ Winnipeg / Jan. 12 @ Minnesota * Jan. 19 @ Calgary / Jan. 20 @ Edmonton * Feb. 25 vs. Buffalo / Feb. 26 @ Pittsburgh * Mar. 3 vs. Florida / Mar. 4 vs. Toronto * Mar. 7 vs. Rangers / Mar. 8 vs. Detroit * Mar. 28 @ Carolina / Mar. 29 vs. Chicago * Apr. 4 vs. Montreal / Apr. 5 @ Montreal * Apr. 11 @ Detroit / Apr. 12 vs. Ottawa Last season, the Devils went 3-9 in the second game of back-to-backs. If they want a winning record this year, they’ll need to improve dramatically in those situations. Seven of these sets involve splitting games between home and road, and the most grueling turnaround comes in April, playing in Detroit on April 11 before flying back to Newark for Ottawa the very next night. A TOUGH START TO THE SEASON The Devils won’t make their home-ice debut until October 16, eight days into the season. Before that, they’ll open with a brutal road stretch against the Carolina Hurricanes, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Columbus Blue Jackets, before hosting the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers for their home opener. Last season, the Devils fared well against these opponents: * 2-2-0 vs. Hurricanes * 2-0-1 vs. Lightning * 2-1-0 vs. Blue Jackets * 2-0-1 vs. Panthers Still, those are playoff-caliber teams that will test the Devils early. CONCLUSION The New Jersey Devils face a tough schedule, but with strength, grit, and consistency, they can position themselves for a deep postseason run. One thing is certain: the road to the playoffs won’t be easy, but it will be exciting. Photo Credit: © Ed Mulholland-Imagn Images
