Devils Showcase Complete All-Around Effort in 4-1 Win Over Mammoth

Published: Saturday, January 3, 2026

by Ryan Nelke

NEWARK, N.J. - The New Jersey Devils (22-17-2) churned out an impressive effort Saturday afternoon in a 4-1 win over the Utah Mammoth (19-20-3).

Both teams traded scoring chances early on, but it was not until the second half of the first period where the ice was finally broken.  New Jersey found themselves down inside the Utah defensive zone, and Jesper Bratt orchestrated a slick wrap around beating the Mammoth’s netminder, Karel Vejmelka, corralling the early lead.  Brett Pesce and Jack Hughes would be credited with the assists.

The Devils struck once again less than two minutes later with just over five and a half minutes remaining in the period, as Timo Meier beat Vejmelka glove side on a sneaky wrist shot from the left circle.  Pesce would notch his second assist of the contest, while Dawson Mercer grabbed the primary assist.

Utah would get a late power play, but it was New Jersey who got the first high-danger scoring chance, as Luke Glendening’s redirection narrowly missed the back of the net.  In the waning seconds of the man advantage, Daniil But and Michael Carcone got prime opportunities to cut the lead in half, but Devils goaltender Jacob Markstrom shut the door.

The first period would come to an end shortly thereafter, with New Jersey leading 2-0.

The Devils picked up right where the left off in the first, with the help from a handful of Mammoth penalties.  The first infraction conceded by Utah did not cost them, as they killed off a Dylan Guenther slashing minor 31 seconds into the frame.

However, Nick Schmaltz and Mikhail Sergachev would be handed minor penalties one minute within each other late into the period, setting up a 5-on-3 advantage for New Jersey.  Just as the Schmaltz tripping minor was coming to an end, it was Nico Hischier who tapped home to puck to put the Devils up 3-0.  Bratt and Jack Hughes would pick up the assists.

90 seconds later, Dougie Hamilton came in on an angle and sniped a shot right over the shoulder of Vejmelka, extending the Devils lead to four.  This goal broke Hamilton’s 27-game goal drought, with this being his fifth of the season.  The lone assist would go to Luke Glendening.

When the horn sounded, the Devils took a 4-0 lead into the second intermission.

New Jersey did not have to do anything special in the final period of play, as they continued their dominant effort.  Utah was able to break up Markstrom’s shutout bid with just under seven and a half minutes to go, but it did not matter much.  The Devils would stand strong for the remainder of the period, and close out a great performance with a 4-1 win.

Markstrom would be recognized as the first star of the game after putting forth a great outing, stopping 30/31 Mammoth shots.

The Devils will be back in action tomorrow, Sunday night, against their rival, the Carolina Hurricanes, with puck drop set for 7 p.m.

Ryan Nelke is an Assistant Sports Director and can be reached at nelkerya@shu.edu.

Posted in: sports,