Devils Drop Regular Season Finale to Red Wings

Published: Wednesday, April 16, 2025

by Patrick Corsello

NEWARK, N.J. — The New Jersey Devils (42-33-7) fell to the Detroit Red Wings (39-35-7), 5-2, on Wednesday night in the final game of the regular season.

With the Devils already having clinched a playoff spot, several regulars were scratched from the lineup, including Nico Hischier, Jesper Bratt, Timo Meier and Luke Hughes.

Both teams started evenly, with several bottom-six players bumped up in the lineup due to the scratches, especially for New Jersey. There wasn’t much on the line for either team besides pride. Detroit narrowly missed the playoffs once again, while New Jersey now prepares to face Carolina this weekend in a series that could go either way.

Detroit earned the first power play of the game when Brendan Dillon was called for tripping with 13:27 remaining in the first period after Patrick Kane went down. The crowd responded with "kill" chants as the Devils tried to keep the game scoreless. Vladimir Tarasenko appeared to give Detroit a 1-0 lead with a shot from the left circle, but after review, the goal was overturned due to goaltender interference. The game remained scoreless.

Neither team scored until Jonatan Berggren found the back of the net for the Red Wings with 2:53 remaining in the first period. While not technically the opening goal due to an earlier overturned tally, it was the first legal goal of the night and gave Detroit a 1-0 lead heading into the first intermission.

Through the first five minutes of the second period, shots were even at 11 apiece, with both teams generating quality chances. With 14:40 remaining, J.T. Compher streaked in and fired one past Nico Daws to extend Detroit’s lead to 2-0.

With 12:54 left in the period, New Jersey went on its second power play of the night after Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin was called for tripping. However, the Devils couldn’t capitalize, and the score remained 2-0.

Detroit earned its second power play with 3:30 left in the second period when Dougie Hamilton was called for tripping Moritz Seider. It was Hamilton’s first game back after missing 18 contests due to injury, and he quickly found himself back in the penalty box.

The Devils killed off that penalty but were assessed another just before the end of the period, a bench minor for too many men on the ice with 57.4 seconds remaining. Detroit failed to score before the horn but started the third with a 1:03 power play.

Just as the third period began, Simon Edvinsson barreled into Devils goaltender Nico Daws, sparking a scrum. The result was an early power play for New Jersey, but it was short-lived, as Simon Nemec was quickly penalized for tripping, marking the third tripping call against the Devils.

Dylan Larkin scored to put Detroit up 3-0.

With 9:35 remaining, the game took another turn as Detroit’s Ben Chiarot was called for tripping, bringing the total to five tripping penalties between the teams.

Erik Haula scored his 11th goal of the season to cut the lead to 3-1. The Devils weren’t done, though, as Dawson Mercer netted his 19th of the year with just over five minutes left in the third period, making it 3-2.

Another scrum broke out with 3:45 remaining, resulting in 4-on-4 hockey as Cody Glass and J.T. Compher were both sent to the box.

Alex DeBrincat sealed the win for Detroit, scoring with 2:51 left in the period to restore the two-goal lead at 4-2. Marco Kasper then added an empty-net goal to give Detroit a 5-2 lead.

The score held for the remainder of the game, and Detroit skated away with the victory. The Devils now head to Raleigh, North Carolina, to prepare for the start of the NHL playoffs, where they’ll face the Carolina Hurricanes this weekend.

Patrick Corsello is an Assistant Music Director at 89.5 FM WSOU and can be reached at patrick.corsello@student.shu.edu. 

Posted in: sports,