New Jersey Devils Game Notes vs Vegas Golden Knights: December 5, 2025 |

Pre-Game Availability *subject to change

~ 11:00 a.m. E.T. (approx.) – Media Availability for Head Coach Sheldon Keefe, please contact Devils PR for requests* Subject to change*

CURRENT INJURIES/ILLNESS

2025-26 Total Man-Games Lost : 141

Pronunciation Guide

Jake Allen: (AL-luhn, JAYK)                                                       

Jesper Bratt: (BRAHT, JEHS -puhr)

Connor Brown (BROWN, KAW-nuhr)

Seamus Casey (KAY-see, SHAY-muhs)

Nico Daws (DAWS, NEE-koh)

Dennis Cholowski (chuh-LAH-skee, DEH-nihs)

Paul Cotter: (KAH-tuhr, PAWL)

Evgenii Dadonov (duh-DON-nauv, ehv-GEH-nee)

Nico Daws (DAWS, NEE-koh)                       

Brenden Dillon: (DIHL-uhn, BREHN-duhn)

Ethan Edwards (EDH-wuhrdz, EE-thuhn)

Cody Glass (GLAS, KOH-dee)

Luke Glendening (glehn-DEHN-inhg, LEWK)

Arseny Gritsyuk (GRIHT-sook, ar-SEEN-ee)

Brian Halonen (HAL-uh-nehn, BRIGH-ugn)

Dougie Hamilton: (HAM -ihl -tuhn, DUH -gee)                         

Nico Hischier: (HEE -shuhr, NEE -koh)                                    

Jack Hughes: (HEWZ, JAK)                                                        

Luke Hughes: (HEWZ, LEWK)

Johnathan Kovacevic: (koh-va-SEHV-Itch)

Shane Lachance (la-CHANS, SHAYN)

Juho Lammikko (lah-MEE-ko, YOU-hoh

Nathan Legare (LAY-gahr-AY, NAY-thuhn)

Zack MacEwen (ma-KEW-ehn, ZAK)

Jacob Markstrom: (JAY-kawb MAHRK-struhm)

Marc McLaughlin (mihk-LAHK-lihn, MAHRK)

Timo Meier (TEE-moh MIGH-uhr)                                              

Dawson Mercer: (MUHR-suhr, DAW-suhn)

Simon Nemec (NHEM-etz, shee-MOHN)

Stefan Noesen: (STEH-fan NAY-sehn)

Ondrej Palat: (pa-LAHT, AWN-dray)

Brett Pesce: (PEH-SHEE, BREHT)

Jonas Siegenthaaler: (SEE-gehn-thahl-uhr, YOH-nuhs)

Colton White (WIGHT, KOHL-tun)

UPCOMING SCHEDULE

• The Devils earned wins in both contests for their first back-to-back set of 2025-26 (Oct. 21-22), which marked the first time since the team played Buffalo in Prague last season (NHL Global Series, Oct. 4-5) that the Devils won both games of a back-to-back set.
• While the team dropped a 5-2 loss at San Jose on Oct. 30, the Devils didn’t allow a shot against in the third period.
  • The Oct. 30 contest at San Jose marked the second time this season that the Devils didn’t surrender any shots against in a single period (last: Oct. 24, 2^nd period, vs SJS, 3-1 win).
  • Per NHL Pr, the Devils are fifth team to allow zero shots on goal in a single period, multiple times during the season the following the New York Rangers (2x in 1978-79), Ottawa Senators (2x in 1998-99), Pittsburgh Penguins (2x in 2000-01) and San Jose Sharks (2x in 2007-08). Note: shots by period dating to 1965-66.

• The team won eight consecutive games from Oct. 25 to Nov. 10. The last time that the Devils earned a winning streak of eight games was when the team recorded a 13-game winning streak from Oct. 25, 2022, to Nov. 21.

• The team scored four goals in 4:04 during the second period of the Tue., Oct. 28, contest at Colorado, which required the ninth fewest minutes for the team to score four goals in a game (S. Noesen, D. Hamilton, D. Mercer, J. Hughes).
  • The fastest instance when the team recorded four goals was 2:34, which was logged on February 4, 2012, after a 6-4 win at Philadelphia (I. Kovalchuk, D. Zubrus, Z. Parise, A. Ponikarovsky).
• The Devils played in five consecutive contests that required overtime from Nov. 6 to Nov. 15, and two of those contests were decided in a shootout (Nov. 8, 2-1 win vs PIT & Nov. 15, 3-2 win at WSH).
  • The franchise has experienced 11 instances when it played in four, or more, consecutive games requiring overtime in a single season.

• The Devils experienced playing in five consecutive games that required overtime from Nov. 6 to Nov. 15 (4-0-1), which marked the third time in franchise history the team played in five consecutive games past regulation in a single season:
  • Jan. 27, 1996 to February 7: 2 wins, 3 ties
  • March 4, 1996 to March 13: 2 wins, 3 ties
  • November 6, 2025- Nov 15: 4 wins, 1 overtime loss

• The Devils conclude a four-game homestand, but are experiencing a three-game losing streak (season low) for the second time this season (prior: Nov. 18-22).
  • New Jersey suffered its second shutout loss for 2025-26, after a 3-0 loss against Dallas on Dec. 3.

• Jersey’s team is 12-0-0 when leading after the second period this season. The Devils are one of five teams (COL, WSH, DAL & MIN) with 12, or more, wins when leading after the second period this season, per Dec. 2.

• The team earned its first shutout victory for 2025-26, after a 5-0 win at Buffalo on Nov. 28.
• Jersey’s team logged 40 PIM on Dec. 1, vs Columbus, which marked the team’s most in a game since it registered 78 against the NY Rangers on April 3, 2024.

HOME COOKING

• The Devils home record at 9-3-1 (.731 Points%) ranked second in the NHL entering Friday’s contest vs Vegas, while Colorado ranked first in the NHL for this matter (.923 Points%).
• The team’s seven consecutive wins at home from the start of the 2025-26 campaign marked the team’s second-longest home winning streak from the start of a season in franchise history.
  • The team’s home winning streak was snapped, after a 3-2 overtime loss against the Islanders on Nov. 10.
  • The franchise’s longest home winning streak from the start of a season is eight games, which occurred in 1987-88.
  • The team’s 10-game home point streak from the start of a season until Nov. 26 tied a franchise record:

• The team’s 2.62 goals-against average at home ranked fifth in the NHL this season, per Dec. 4.

VS VGK

-The Devils and Sin City meet for the first of two matchups this season, while the two foes meet next at Vegas on Dec. 17.

-Jersey’s team was 0-2-0 against Vegas last season, after suffering a 3-1 loss at home and then a 2-0 loss at Vegas.

-The Devils are 5-8-1 all-time against Vegas, and own a 3-4-0 record at home against the Golden Knights.

All-time single-game highs & lows vs VGK

The Penalty-Kill 

• The Devils’ penalty-kill percentage ranks 7^th in the NHL (82.9%), per Dec. 4.

• The team hadn’t allowed a power-play goal in six consecutive games (Oct. 11-Oct 22), and killed 21/21 opponents’ power-play opportunities.
  • The Devils allowed a power-play goal on Oct. 24 in their first penalty-kill opportunity.
  • The most consecutive games that the Devils did not allow a power-play goal was 11 games (37 penalty kills), which was recorded from Dec. 16, 2000, to Jan. 10, 2001 (courtesy NHL Pr).

Last Game

Dallas Stars 3                                   New Jersey Devils 0

(18-5-5)                                            (16-10-1)

Three Stars: 1. J. Oettinger 2. M. Heiskanen 3. E. Lindell

Goals:

DAL: M. Heiskanen (GWG), J. Robertson, M. Rantanen

NJD:

Game Summary | Event Summary | Box Score

DHN Quiz Question

Ondrej Palat’s career plus/minus rating of +140 ranks fifth all-time for Czechia natives, but who ranks first?

A: Jaromir Jagr at +322, who is a former Devils and Star.

Special Teams

PP: 0-2 | PK: 1-1

Attendance: 15,805

Duration: 7:09 P.M. E.T. –  9:34 E.T. P.M.

Coach’s Corner

• Head coach Sheldon Keefe enters his second season with New Jersey, after leading the team to 42 wins and a playoff berth in 2024-25.
• Keefe’s career coaching record is 270-140-48 (458 career games)

• His win total at 400 career NHL games coached from the start of a career ranks third all-time in NHL history.

• 1. D. Bylsma: 252 wins 2. Rod Brind’Amour: 242 wins 3. Sheldon Keefe: 240 wins

• Did you know…Keefe earned his 200^th career win in his 326^th game, which ranks second all-time in NHL history for the fewest games needed to earn 200 career wins (D. Bylsma, 316 games needed ranks 1^st).
• Keefe earned his 250 career regular-season win in his 422^nd career game, which ranks fourth all-time for the fewest games coached to earn 250 career wins.

 Top 10 fewest games coached to 250 career wins. 

(Courtesy NHL Pr)

Alternate Jersey Schedule/Record

Players By Country

CAN-9

USA -7

CHE-3

SWE-2

RUS-2

SVK – 1

FIN – 1

CZE-1

Avg height: 6’1

Avg weight: 200

Avg age: 29: Avg. Age Rank (Youngest to Oldest): 29

2025-26 Fighting Majors

2025-26 Extra Attacker Situations

2025-26 TEAM STATS

2025-26 RECORD BY DIVISION/CONFERENCE:

MET: 3-4-1

ATL: 6-2-0

CEN: 4-2-0

PAC: 3-2-0

EAST: 9-6-1

WEST: 7-4-0

RECORD WHEN SCORING FIRST

Scoring first…11-2-1…Trailing first…5-8-0

OVERTIME/SHOOTOUT

OT: 4-1

SO: 2-0

OUTSHOOTING OPP: 8-8-1

OUTSHOT: 6-2-0

EVEN: 2-0-0

The longest duration of a game this season: 2 hours, 46 minutes, 11/15/25 @ WSH

2025-26 GOALS BY PERIOD

*Does not include shootout

2025-26 BACK-TO-BACK GAME

Overall: 4-2-0

First game: 3-0-0  | home: 0-0-0 | road: 3-0-0

Second game: 1-2-0  | home: 1-1-0  | road: 0-1-0

BACK-TO-BACK GAMES

THE LAST TIME IN THE REGULAR SEASON THE DEVILS…              

(Excludes overtime)

2025-26 TEAM Highs & Lows:

THE NEW GUYS

• Evgenii Dadonov, Connor Brown, Arseny Gritsyuk, Juho Lammikko and Zack McEwen all join the fold.
  • Dadonov is fresh off a 40-point campaign, after he tallied 20 goals and 20 assists with Dallas in 2024-25.
  • Brown tallied 30 points (13g-17a) with Edmonton last season and has appeared in consecutive Stanley Cup Finals.

Below are the most multi-assist games for franchise history:

The most multi-goal games in franchise history:

The most multi-point games in franchise history:

THE CAPTAIN

• Captain Nico Hischier enters his sixth season donning the captain’s “C” on his sweater.
• He recorded a career-high 35 goals in 2024-25, and earned a career-high 14 power-play goals.
• His 29 power-play points marked a career-high in 2024-25 and ranked second on the team behind Jesper Bratt’s 34.
• Hischier earned three assists in the team’s 3-1 win over San Jose on Oct. 24, which marked his third multi-point game for 2025-26.
• Hischier’s three assists on Oct. 24 tied a career-high that the captain has earned seven times (last:2/23/25 @ NSH).

• Hischier’s 434 career points (now 447 PTS) passed Scott Stevens for the 10^th most in franchise history. Fellow teammate Jesper Bratt ranks seventh with 473 career points.

• Hischier recorded two goals and one assist on Nov. 22 at PHI, which marked his 101^st career multi-point game.
  • Hischier’s 101 career multi-point games (now 104) passed Bobby Holik for the 10^th most in franchise history.
  • Petr Sykora ranks ninth all-time with 105 career multi-point games for franchise history.  

• The captain’s three-point effort at Philadelphia on Nov. 22, also marked his 100^th, and 101^st, career road goals.
  • Hischier passed Travis Zajac (100 career road goals) for the third most road goals all-time for franchise history.
  • John MacLean ranks first for this matter with 172 career road goals with the Devils, while Patrik Elias ranks second with 165 career road goals.
• Hischier earned a season-high four games goal-scoring streak (5g-4a), from Nov. 22-28.
  • While Hischier’s goal-scoring streak was snapped on Nov. 29, he chipped in one helper and extended his point streak to five games (5g-5a).
  • The captain extended his season-high point streak to six games, after he collected two points (1g-1a) on Dec. 1 vs Columbus. Hischier’s six-game point streak was snapped on Dec. 3.
  • His career-high point streak is eight games for a single season (Logged twice; last, March 11, 2025 to March 26, 4g-6a).
  • His seven multi-point games this season are tied for first on New Jersey with Jesper Bratt.
• Hischier won 16 of 22 face-offs on Dec. 3, which tied a season-high that he earned twice prior in 2025-26 (last: 10/24 vs SJS).
  • His 72.7% face-off on Dec. 3 marked a season-high.

BRATTER

• Jesper Bratt recorded his second goal for the season at Tampa on Oct. 11, which also marked Bratt’s fourth career shorthanded goal.
• The Swedish native’s 23 multi-point games in 2024-25 marked a career-high for a single season.

• Bratt’s 473 career points rank fifth for all players drafted in the 2016 NHL Draft class, while his career point total also ranks first for all players drafted after the second round from that class.

• Bratt earned an assist on Oct. 16 vs Florida, which marked his 300^th career assist. His now 318 career helpers passed Bruce Driver for eighth all-time in franchise history (passed on Dec. 1 vs CBJ).

• Bratt’s seven-game point streak from the start of the season (4g-7a) ended after the Oct. 24 contest against San Jose.
  • The seven-game stretch marked the ninth instance in Bratt’s career that he logged a point streak of seven, or more, games (longest: 11 via 2022-23).

• Bratt’s 153rd career goal passed Brian Gionta and tied Wilf Paiement for the 11^th most in franchise history.

• Aaron Broten ranks 10^th all-time for franchise history with 162 career goals.
  • Bratt enters Friday’s contest with 155 career goals.
  • Bratt earned the overtime winning goal in the Nov. 6 contest, which marked his third career overtime winner (last: Feb. 6, 2023, vs Vancouver).
• Bratt was selected for the team’s shootout round against Pittsburgh on Nov. 8, and converted his first shootout goal/attempt for the 2025-26 campaign.
  • His 11 career shootout goals rank tied for seventh all-time for franchise history with Jacob Josefson’s 11 career shootout goals with the Devils.
• Bratt recorded three assists on Nov. 22, at Philadelphia, which tied a season-high for assists in a game (last: Oct. 21 @ TOR, 0g-3a).
  • The three assists also tied a career-high that Bratt earned in a game (11x).
  • Bratt’s 11 career games with three, or more, assists in a game passed Travis Zajac and Bruce Driver for the fifth most in franchise history. Scott Gomez ranks fourth with 13 career games with three, or more, assists in a game for franchise history.

• Bratt now owns 473 career points, which passed Bobby Holik for seventh all-time for franchise history.

TIMO TIME

• The Swiss-born forward has recorded 20, or more, goals in four consecutive seasons.
  • Per NHL Pr, “Meier tied Kevin Fiala and Nino Niederreiter (both w/ 7) for the most 20-goal seasons by a Swiss-born player in NHL history.”
• Meier recorded 15 points (11g-4a) in his final 21 games played last season, and his 11 goals were tied for the team lead with Nico Hischier over that frame.
• Meier’s 27 assists in 2024-25 marked his most since he tallied 41 in 2021-22.
• Meier’s 227 career goals rank second all-time for Swiss-born skaters behind Nino Niederreiter’s 246.
• His 64 career power-play goals rank second all-time for Swiss-born skaters behind R. Josi’s 65 PPG.

• Meier’s longest goal scoring streak in a single season with the Devils/career-high is five games, which he last earned from March 1, 2024, to March 9 (7g-1a). Meier has earned a five-game goal-scoring streak four times in his career.
• Meier extended goal-scoring streak to three games after netting one goal and one assist on Nov. 26, which tied a season-high via Oct. 11, 2025, to Oct. 16 (3g-2a). Meier’s goal-scoring streak ended on Nov. 28, at Buffalo, but his point streak was extended.

• Meier extended his season-high point streak to six games (5g-3a) on Dec. 1, vs Columbus, which is tied for his longest with the Devils since 2022-23 when he was acquired (2x, last: Feb. 27, 2024 to March 9, 7g-3a).
• His career-high point streak is nine games, which Meier earned with San Jose in 2018-19.
• Meier’s six-game point streak was snapped on Dec. 3.

• Meier owns five goals over the team’s last seven games. His 10 goals are tied with Dawson Mercer and Jack Hughes for the most on New Jersey this season. His five power-play goals rank first on New Jersey.

PALLY

• Ondrej Palat is in his fourth season with New Jersey.
• He is one of 10 Czechia-born players in NHL history to win multiple Stanley Cup championships.
• Palat ranks third for all active Czechia-born skaters with 506 career points (177g-329a).
• Palat’s career-high point-streak is eight games, which he earned via Dec. 23, 2013, to Jan. 9, 2014.  

• The veteran forward’s career +140 plus/minus rating ranks fifth all-time for Czechia-born skaters in NHL history.

• Palat is one of 22 active NHL skaters with a career plus/minus rating at +140, or higher.

• Palat earned his first goal for the 2025-26 campaign on Nov. 6 against Montreal.

• Palat logged a season-high six hits on Nov. 22, at Philadelphia. His career-high is nine hits in a game, which he logged with Tampa Bay on Dec. 5, 2013, against Ottawa.

• Palat logged his first multi-point game on Nov. 28, at Buffalo, after he recorded two assists in the contest.

• He cashed in his second goal for the season on Dec. 1, vs Columbus.

PROFESSOR/ADMIN

• Dougie Hamilton enters his fifth season with New Jersey.
• Hamilton is fresh off recording his eighth season with 40, or more, points (9g-31a).
• He is one of 16 active defensemen since 2019-20 who have recorded four, or more, seasons with at least 40 points.

• Hamilton’s 49 career goals tied Andy Greene for the sixth-most goals that a defenseman scored for franchise history.

• Joe Cirella’s 50 career goals with the Devils ranks fifth for all defensemen in franchise history.

• Hamilton’s 164 career points (now 168) with New Jersey passed Paul Martin for the ninth most that a defenseman earned for franchise history. Ken Daneyko ranks eighth for this matter with 178 career points.
• Hamilton recorded two power-play goals in the team’s outing against San Jose on Oct. 24.
  • The effort marked the third time in his career that he earned two power-play goals in a game and second in a Devils uniform (last: Feb. 9, 2023, vs SEA).
  • The Oct. 24 contest marked Hamilton’s first game-winning goal for 2025-26 and his 12^th career game-winning goal with the Devils, which passed Andy Greene for the fourth most that a defenseman earned in franchise history. Brian Rafalski ranks third all-time for GWG scored by a defenseman in franchise history with 13 game-winning goals.

• Hamilton’s 41 career multi-point games with the Devils rank fifth all-time for defensemen in franchise history, while Brian Rafalski’s 54 multi-point games rank fourth.

• Per NHL Pr, “the Devils have featured a defenseman register the game-winning goal in three consecutive contests for the first time in franchise history; the Oilers were the last team to post a stretch of at least three games (3 GP from April 5-10, 2024).”

• Hamilton finished the Oct. 24 contest vs SJS with three points (2g-1a), after he earned an assist on Connor Brown’s empty-net goal in the third period.

• The Oct. 24 effort marked Hamilton’s 20^th career game with three, or more, points (last: 11/9/24 at NYI, 0g-3a).

• Hamilton left the Nov. 6 contest against Montreal during the early stages of the second period and did not return.
• Hamilton returned to action Nov. 18 at Tampa, after the blueliner was sidelined (injury) for four games.

NOES

• Stefan Noesen recorded a career-high 20 goals and 10 power-play goals last season.
• The Devils were 15-2-0 when Noesen scored a goal in a game last season.
• Noesen recorded his first career overtime goal on Jan. 11, against Tampa, which was also earned on the power-play.
• The overtime tally marked his fifth game-winning goal in 2024-25, which also marked a career-high.
• Noesen earned his 38^th point on March 29, 2025, at Minnesota, which marked a career-high that he earned in a single season (37 w/ CAR in 2023-24).
• Noesen was activated off the injured, non-roster list on Oct. 22 and logged his season debut against Minnesota that night.
• Noesen earned his first goal for the 2025-26 campaign against Colorado on Oct. 28.
• He logged his first fight for the season on Nov. 22, against Detroit’s J.T. Compher.
• Noesen logged his second fight (leads team) on Nov. 28, against Buffalo’s T. Thompson.
  • The veteran forward logged his third fight on Dec. 1, against Columbus’ D. Voronkov.

Luuuuuuuke

• Luke Hughes became the first Devils defenseman with consecutive 30-assist seasons since Brian Rafalski recorded six straight campaigns from 2000-01 to 2006-07 (the longest such stretch in franchise history by a blueliner).
• L. Hughes finished the 2024-25 campaign with 12 multi-point games, which marked a career-high for a single season (9 in 2023-24).
• L. Hughes recorded his 100^th career point on Sat., Nov., 1^st.
  • The youngster required the fewest games played in Devils team history since 1982-83 for a defensemen who earned his 100^th career point:

• The youngster earned consecutive multi-point games in the team’s opening two games for the 2025-26 campaign (0g-4a).
  • L. Hughes’ 25 career multi-point games tied Scott Niedermayer for the second most multi-point contests that a defenseman earned in franchise history before the age of 23. Rob Ramage owns the franchise record at 28.
  • L. Hughes’ 18 career multi-assist games passed Niedermayer for the most that a defenseman earned in team history (since 1982-83) under the age of 23, and tied R. Ramage for the most that a D-man earned in franchise history under the age of 23.
• L. Hughes logged 29:44 TOI in a game against Pittsburgh on November 8. The 29:39 TOI marked a season-high for L. Hughes.
• His career-high for a single game is 32:49 TOI via April 3, 2024, at New York Rangers.
• Since Thursday, November 7, L. Hughes is averaging 26:46 TOI, which ranks third for all NHL skaters since that date (Z. Werenski is 1^st, 27:41 & Q. Hughes 27:24 ATOI).
• He recorded a career-high seven shots on goal on Nov. 12 at Chicago.
• L. Hughes earned his third multi-point game for 2025-26, after the youngster tallied his first goal for the season and chipped in one assist against Washington on November 15.
  • Per NHL Pr, L. Hughes “recorded his 26th career multi-point game to pass Scott Niedermayer (25) for the second most by a Devils/Rockies/Scouts defenseman before age 23. The list is topped by Rob Ramage (28).”
• L. Hughes earned his 12^th assist on Nov. 22, vs Detroit.
  • Per NHL Pr, “Luke Hughes collected his 88th career assist and surpassed Joe Cirella for the second most by a Devils/Rockies/Scouts defenseman at age 22 or younger behind only Scott Niedermayer (106).”

DILLY, DILLY!

• Brenden Dillon recorded goals, and game-winning goals, in consecutive games from Oct. 21 to Oct. 22.
• The Oct. 22 contest marked the third time in Dillon’s career that he scored in consecutive games (Last: Nov. 9-11, 2023, with Winnipeg). The two-game goal-scoring streak tied his career high.

• It also marked the first time in his career that Dillon earned game-winning goals in consecutive games.
• Dillon now owns two game-winning goals this season, which tied a career-high for a single season that he earned in 2023-24 with Winnipeg.
•  
• Per NHL Pr, Dillon “became the fourth defenseman in franchise history with the game-winning goals in consecutive team games, alongside: Dougie Hamilton (Nov. 21-23, 2024 & Jan. 22-24, 2023), Brian Rafalski (Dec. 5-8, 2001) and Barry Beck (Dec. 13-17, 1977). Dillon is the first blueliner to do so on consecutive days for the franchise, with Ilya Kovalchuk (Jan. 6-7, 2012) being the last such instance by any player for the Devils.”
• Dillon’s 67 hits rank second (P. Cotter, 75) on the team this season. His 43 blocks rank second on the team behind Jonas Siegenthaler’s 48.
• Dillon earned his third goal for the season on Nov. 28, which marked his first multi-point game (1g-1a) for 2025-26.

Eyes on 1,000

• Dillon played in his 1,000^th career game on Dec. 1, vs Columbus and became the 22^nd defenseman all-time who was undrafted and played in 1,000 career NHL games – a list which includes former Devils captain Andy Greene (1,057 GP).

• He’s became the 69^th undrafted player all-time who’s played in 1,000 career NHL games and is the only active player who was undrafted and played in 1,000 games.

• Since the NHL Draft was implemented in 1963-64, Dillon will became the 11^th NHL defenseman, and 28^th player, all-time who was undrafted and experienced their first NHL season in 1963-64, or later, and played in 1,000 career NHL games.

• Former Devil Andy Greene was the most recent defenseman who reached the feat, after logging his NHL debut in 2006-07 and playing in over 1,000 career NHL games.
• Dillon left the Dec. 1 contest during the first period, returned during the second period, but did not return for the third period.

JUST KEEP SWIMMING, JUST KEEP SWIMMING…

• Simon Nemec earned his second goal for the season on Nov. 10 vs the Islanders, which tied the game at 2-2 (extra-attacker) with 0:05 remaining in the contest.
• Per NHL Pr, Nemec recorded “latest game-tying goal by a defenseman in franchise history besting Bruce Driver who scored with seven seconds remaining on March 1, 1987.”

Latest game-tying goals in franchise history during the regular season:

• Nemec earned goals in consecutive games from Nov. 10 to Nov. 12, after he earned his first career hat-trick on Nov. 12 at Chicago.
• The effort marked the youngster’s first-career goal-scoring streak (4g-0a).
• Nemec and Brenden Dillon are New Jersey’s two defensemen who earned a goal-scoring streak this season (B. Dillon via Oct. 21 – Oct 22, 2g-0a).

• Nemec scored his third goal of the game on Nov. 12, which was earned 3:26 into the overtime frame. The goal also marked his first-career overtime goal during the regular season.  
• Nemec became the third defenseman in franchise history who earned a hat-trick:

• The effort on Nov. 12 marked the sixth time in his career that he logged a (tied) career-high two-game point streak (last: Oct. 21 to Oct. 22, 0g-2a).
• Per NHL Pr, Nemec became “the youngest Devils defenseman with a multi-goal game since Damon Severson in 2014-15 (Oct. 16, 2014). Overall, Nemec is the sixth defenseman in franchise history with a multi-goal game at age 21 or younger, following Barry Beck (3x), Rob Ramage (2x), Scott Niedermayer (2x), Joe Cirella and Severson.”

• Per NHL Pr, Nemec “the youngest defenseman in NHL history with a hat trick and overtime goal in the same game.”

Below are all NHL defensemen who scored a hat-trick, which was also an overtime goal:

• Nemec earned his first career shootout goal, and game-deciding goal, after his first career shootout attempt on Nov. 15 at Washington.
• Nemec earned his second overtime goal for the season, after finding the back of the net on Nov. 26 against St. Louis.
  • The effort marked the first time in his career that Nemec earned two overtime goals in a singles season.

Nemec is the sixth defenseman (8^th instance) in franchise history who scored multiple overtime goals in a single season. Details below:

Per NHL PR:

• Simon Nemec joined teammate Luke Hughes (2) as the second defensemen in franchise history with multiple overtime winners before age 22.
• Simon Nemec became the fifth Slovakian defensemen in NHL history with at least two career overtime goals, alongside Lubomir Visnovsky (4), Zdeno Chara (3), Andrej Meszaros (3) and Andrej Sekera (3). Among that cohort, Nemec is the only player to have multiple before age 22.
• Simon Nemec became the sixth defenseman age 21 or younger in NHL history to score two overtime goals in one season. He joined Moritz Seider (2021-22), Tyler Myers (2010-11), P.K. Subban (2010-11), Cam Fowler (2010-11) and Brent Seabrook (2005-06).
• Nemec earned his sixth goal of the season (extended his career-high), after finding the back of the net against Philadelphia on Nov. 29.
• Nemec is one of nine NHL defensemen with six, or more, goals this season.

• Per NHL Pr, Nemec “became the fifth defenseman in Devils/Rockies/Scouts history with six goals in a calendar month. He joined Dave Pichette (10 in December 1984), Barry Beck (10 in December 1977), Tom Kurvers (8 in December 1988) and Mike McEwen (6 in December 1979).”

• He “became the fifth defenseman in the past 25 years to score at least six goals in a calendar month at age 21 or younger. The others: Cale Makar (7 in November 2019), Erik Karlsson (7 in February 2012), Drew Doughty (6 in February 2011) and Shea Weber (6 in March 2007).”

Quick Hits

-Brett Pesce played in his 700^th career NHL game, after the team’s season opener against Carolina on Oct. 9.

-Arseny Gritsyuk inked his NHL debut with 9:52 TOI on Oct. 9.

-Grtisyuk earned his first career NHL point, after recording a multi-assist game on Oct. 11 at Tampa.

-Gritsyuk recorded his first NHL goal (PPG) on Oct. 22, against Minnesota.

-Gritsyuk recorded his first goal on home ice via Oct. 26 vs Colorado, which marked his second career NHL goal.

-The Russian native was the team’s third star of the game on Nov. 8 against Pittsburgh, after Gritsyuk earned his third goal for 2025-26.

-Gritsyuk earned a power-play goal on Nov. 15 at Washington, which marked his second PPG for 2025-26.

-Gritsyuk earned two goals on Nov. 28 at Buffalo, which marked his first career multi-goal game and second multi-point game for his rookie campaign.

-Veteran forward Luke Glendening logged his Devils debut on Oct. 9, while logging 10:22 TOI and won 53% of his face-offs (8/15).

j-Connor Brown also logged his Devils debut on Oct. 9, while starting the contest on a line with Ondrej Palat and Cody Glass.

–Brownrecorded his seventh career multi-goal game on Oct. 11 at Tampa, and then earned his 10^th career shorthanded goal via Oct. 18 vs Edmonton.

-Brown earned his fourth goal for the season on Oct. 24 vs San Jose and then his fifth goal on Oct. 26.

-Brown’s career-high goal-scoring streak is eight games, which he earned with Ottawa from March 25, 2021, to April 12 (8g-1a).

-Brown earned his first game-winning goal in a Devils sweater on Nov. 22, vs Detroit.

-He earned two assists on Nov. 28 at Buffalo which marked his third multi-point game for 2025-26.

–Paul Cotter earned his first goal for 2025-26 on Oct. 22 vs Minnesota, and his 71 hits rank first for all Devils forwards this season.

-Cotter logged a season-high seven hits against Pittsburgh on Nov. 8, which led all skaters from the contest.

-He tallied his second goal for the season on Nov. 28 at Buffalo.

-Cotter logged his first fight for the season on Dec. 1, vs Columbus’ B. Smith, which marked his third career fight (last: Dec. 23, 2025, vs NYR’s V. Trocheck).

–Colton White logged his 2025-26 season debut with the NHL club on Nov. 8 vs Pittsburgh (9:55 TOI).

TIMELESS…

Dawson Mercer has played in 355 consecutive games since he began his NHL career in 2021-22. Mercer owns the franchise record for the most consecutive games played to start an NHL career, after he passed Scott Gomez 140 consecutive games played from the start of an NHL career. 

Mercer’s 355 consecutive games played currently ranks 5^th in the NHL for all active skaters. The NHL record for the most consecutive games played from the start of a career is Andrew Cogliano’s 830 consecutive games played from 2007 until 2018.

Mercer’s 329^th consecutive games played passed Sergei Brylin (328, 2003-04 to 2007-08) for the fourth-longest stretch in franchise history. Andy Greene ranks third at 350 consecutive games played (2011-12 to 2016-17).

Mercer became the 16^th player in NHL history who played in 300 consecutive games from the start of his career.

No. 91 recorded a +3 rating on Oct. 11, against Tampa, which tied his career-high rating in a single game (achieved 8x, last: 10/30/24 at VAN).

Mercer recorded his first multi-goal game (9^th in career) against Columbus on Oct. 13, which also marked his first power-play goal for 2025-26.

Mercer extended his point streak to four games (5g-1a), after he collected an assist against Anaheim on Nov. 2. The streak was snapped after the Nov. 6 contest against Montreal.

Mercer’s longest goal-scoring streak for a single season is eight games, which No. 91 earned from February 16, 2023, to March 3, 2023. His longest point streak is 12 via Feb. 16, 2023 to March 11 (11g-9a).

Mercer’s three-game goal-scoring streak via Oct. 28 to Nov. 1^st marked his second-longest stretch for his career, which also marks his 11th instance with goals in consecutive games for his career.

The most multi-goal games that Mercer recorded in a single season for his career is four games, which was logged via 2022-23.

Mercer recorded two shorthanded goals in a game for the first time in his career on Nov. 1^st at Los Angeles.

Mercer’s two shorthanded goals on Nov. 1^st. 2025, marked the second time in Devils team history since 1982-83 that a player recorded two shorthanded goals in a game (Last: Oct. 16, 1993, Alexander Semak, at NYI).

Mercer enters Friday’s contest vs Vegas with five multi-point games this season, while his career-high for a single season is 12 via 2022-23.

Jake Allen returned to New Jersey, after he was an unrestricted free agent this offseason. Allen recorded four shutouts in 2024-25, which marked his most since the 2016-17 season with St. Louis (4).

Allen became the first netminder in NHL history who defeated 32 different NHL teams, after a 3-0 win against Utah on Oct. 14, 2024.

Allen started four consecutive games for New Jersey (3-0-0, Oct. 13-21) and earned his first win for 2025-26 against Florida on Oct. 16 (21 saves/22 shots).

Per NHL Pr, Allen “became the third Devils goaltender to post a five-game winning streak at age 35 or older. He joined Martin Brodeur (9x; last: 5 GP in 2013-14) and Johan Hedberg (7 GP in 2010-11).” Allen began the season 5-0-0 and is now 7-2-0 on the year.

Allen logged his first shutout for 2025-26 on Nov. 28, at Buffalo. He logged 42 saves in the effort, which marked the third time in his career that he recorded 40, or more, saves in a shutout victory (45, 2x).

Jacob Markstrom also recorded four shutouts in his first season with Jersey’s team. Markstrom logged a career-high 10-game unbeaten streak in December, while also recording consecutive shutouts.

Markstrom earned his first win for the 2025-26 season, after his start against Tampa on Oct. 11, 2025. He replaced Allen for the start of the third period on Oct. 13 at Columbus and was credited with his second win for 2025-26.

Markstrom returned to the Devils lineup on Oct. 26 vs Colorado (missed 5 GP), and was the backup netminder for Allen.

Markstrom became the fourth goaltender in franchise history, who earned an assist during an overtime frame. Markstrom earned the primary assist on S. Nemec’s OTG on Nov. 12 at Chicago, which marked his second assist for 2025-26.

NEW JERSEY DEVILS 2025-26 POTENTIAL MILESTONES

NEW JERSEY DEVILS 2025-26 MILESTONES

HOW THEY WERE BUILT

Utica Report: New Jersey’s AHL affiliate earned a 4-3 overtime victory against Rochester on Wed., Dec. 3. Xavier Parent earned the game-winner. Xavier Parent leads the team with 12 PTS (6g-6a). The team plays next on Fri., Dec. 5, against Bridgeport at home.