Devils Week Ahead: Schedule & Storylines — Back at Home, Hameenaho’s Early Success, and More – The Hockey Writers – New Jersey Devils

The New Jersey Devils will seek to continue their current three-game win streak after sweeping all three games on their road trip through Western Canada. This upcoming week will feature a long-awaited return to the Prudential Center, as well as one last away game before the Olympic break. Here are a few storylines to follow during the week of Jan. 25 – Feb. 1, 2026.

Homeward Bound

On Sunday, the Devils will wrap up their current four-game road trip with an afternoon matchup against the Seattle Kraken at Climate Pledge Arena. So far, they’ve defeated the Calgary Flames, Edmonton Oilers, and the Vancouver Canucks, pulling off a string of gritty victories. The team will have a short homestand this week, facing the Winnipeg Jets and the Nashville Predators. So far, the team is 2-2-0 at the Prudential Center in January, so these games will be a major test. Can they give the fans a few much-needed home victories?

Hameenaho Impresses Since NHL Debut

Forward Lenni Hameenaho made his NHL debut against the Flames, and his impact was immediate. So far, he’s been on the ice for 33 shot attempts and 19 scoring chances, along with 24 shots on goal. Paired with Cody Glass and Arseny Gritsyuk, he has the potential to revitalize the Devils’ bottom-six forward group.

Hameenaho even scored his first NHL goal against the Canucks, putting the Devils on the board 1:41 into the first period after firing a rebound past Kevin Lankinen. The Devils are now 3-0-0 with Hameenaho in the lineup, and the 21-year-old Finn has already proven himself as a depth scorer.

Blue Line Tested Without Luke Hughes

It’s been almost a week since Luke Hughes went down the tunnel against the Flames after suffering a shoulder injury. On Wednesday, he was placed on long-term injured reserve (LTIR) and has decided on rehab instead of undergoing surgery. He is not expected to return before the Olympic break, and since he leads all Devils’ defensemen with 26 points, his absence will be tough to fill.

In the meantime, the team will look toward their other offensive defensemen: Dougie Hamilton and Simon Nemec. They’ve been able to fill in the gaps so far, but hopefully, the rest of their defense can continue to pressure opponents and limit scoring chances against.

Devils Schedule Jan. 25 – Feb. 1