Devils Must Show They Can Bounce Back Against the Mammoth

The Hockey Writers argues that the New Jersey Devils face an early test of character when they host the Utah Mammoth on Tuesday. After opening the 2026-27 NHL season with a 3-2 overtime victory over the Philadelphia Flyers, New Jersey suffered a 6-0 shutout loss to the New York Islanders. The article emphasizes that the team must prove it can bounce back rather than let tough defeats snowball like last season.

According to the analysis, New Jersey must correct early issues on special teams, having started the season zero for nine on the power play despite featuring Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier, and Jesper Bratt. The writer also notes that new general manager Sunny Mehta added offensive depth, including Luke Evangelista and Anthony Mantha, requiring the forward lines to improve their five-on-five scoring.