Devils’ Depth Scoring Powering Recent Win Streak – The Hockey Writers – New Jersey Devils
The New Jersey Devils’ depth scoring difficulties are nothing new. Their bottom-six forward group has struggled to find the back of the net, looking disjointed and lacking chemistry for the majority of the season.
But on their most recent road trip, the Devils went on a three-game winning streak — something that the team has not achieved since November. Unsurprisingly, the string of victories came easier with secondary scoring. But what factors have been contributing to their recent surge? Here’s a breakdown of everything that’s gone right for the Devils toward the end of January.
There’s no doubt that Lenni Hameenaho has been a major addition to the Devils’ fourth line. After leading the Utica Comets in scoring, he was recalled and made his NHL debut against the Calgary Flames. In 12:37 of action, he was on the ice for 16 shot attempts and 13 shots on goal.
He found immediate success, paired with Cody Glass and Arseny Gritsyuk. In just four games, this trio has been responsible for 32 unblocked shot attempts, eight high-danger scoring chances, and three goals. Hameenaho’s NHL stint has proven to be the offensive spark their fourth line previously lacked.
Against the Vancouver Canucks, both Hameenaho and Glass had a multipoint night. The 21-year-old Finn opened the scoring with his first NHL goal, while Glass tallied two goals and an assist. Together, the Gritsyuk-Glass-Hameenaho line boasts a 68.57 shots for percentage (SF%), generating 42 shot attempts during the Devils’ four-game road trip.
Speaking to the media after a gutsy 5-4 win over the Canucks, head coach Sheldon Keefe said the organization had been waiting for the right time to bring Hameenaho into the lineup. “Lenni’s development, and the patience that we’ve shown to allow him to find his game here and to come up when he’s ready, has really served us well in the early going,” said Keefe. The decision has already worked in the Devils’ favor, given the maturity and poise Hameenaho has shown so far.
Connor Brown’s Continued Impact
Depth scoring has also been shifting the momentum of recent games. In particular, Connor Brown has had an uptick in point production. With four points on the Devils’ road trip, he was instrumental in back-to-back wins against his former Oilers club, as well as the Canucks.
Brown remains one of the Devils’ most reliable secondary scorers, but he’s recently been excelling on the power play. According to MoneyPuck, he has an on-ice expected goals percentage of 96.5 in 5-on-4 scenarios. In his last two games, he’s earned three power-play points, including a goal against Canucks that gave the Devils a 4-2 lead.
Late-night dessert.#NJDevils | @Mikes_Amazing pic.twitter.com/lK972JAMmg
— New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) January 24, 2026
And despite their loss against the Seattle Kraken on Sunday night, Brown still made a considerable impact. He assisted Dougie Hamilton and Jack Hughes on the power play, which were coincidentally the only Devils’ goals of the evening.
Recently, he’s been on a line with Paul Cotter and Evgenii Dadonov, but this combination has been a disaster statistically. Across three games, they have a relative shots for percentage of negative-40.06%, along with an expected goal total of .18. But amid these third-line struggles, Brown has found a way to make an impact on the Devils’ special teams, driving offense.
Defense Pitches In
The Devils lost yet another important aspect of their scoring last week, when Luke Hughes suffered a shoulder injury against the Calgary Flames. But luckily, secondary scoring saved the day.
Dawson Mercer put the Devils on the board first, but it was defenseman Simon Nemec who scored the game-winning goal in overtime. With Hughes expected to be out of the lineup until after the Olympic break, the team will look to their other offensive defensemen to fill his absence. And so far, Nemec and Hamilton have delivered.
Related: Jack Hughes Has Been Crucial to the Devils’ Success Since His Return
Coincidentally, this development has also halted trade talks surrounding Hamilton, who’s been on a seven-game point streak after being benched against the Winnipeg Jets. With one goal and eight assists since then, he’s finally showing flashes of the offensive defenseman that Devils fans know and love. Hamilton’s performance and $9 million salary have been a topic of debate all season long, but he’ll play a key role moving forward as the blue line is forced to adapt without Hughes.
All in all, the Devils have the necessary components needed to revive their depth scoring. With Hameenaho thriving after his NHL debut, Brown making an impact on the third line, and even defense pitching in to help score goals, the team is close to getting back on track. Have they finally cracked the code to one of their most persistent issues? Or will it keep the Devils from reclaiming a playoff spot?
