Devils Week Ahead: Schedule & Storylines — Markstrom Shines, Brown’s Hot Streak, and More – The Hockey Writers – New Jersey Devils

The New Jersey Devils have been playing some of their best hockey as of late. Going 7-3-0 in their last 10 games, their seven-game homestand was a smashing success, and the team will look to bring that momentum into their current road trip.

At long last, the Devils are firing on all cylinders, enjoying depth scoring, elite goaltending, and a surplus of scoring chances. Even though they’ll miss the playoffs this season, fans should still be proud of how far the team has come, especially after dealing with countless setbacks. With 13 games remaining, they have one last shot at redemption.

This week, the Devils have four games scheduled, wrapping things up on Sunday by taking on the Chicago Blackhawks at Prudential Center. Here are a few storylines to follow for the week of March 22 — March 29, 2026.

Jacob Markstrom Shines

After a long stretch of shaky goaltending, the Devils are finally enjoying stability in the crease. It appears that their faith in Jacob Markstrom has finally been renewed — and for good reason. He started seven games in a row, earning back-to-back wins against the Florida Panthers and the Toronto Maple Leafs. 

Within that time frame, Markstrom went 4-3-0 and averaged a save percentage (SV%) of .900. Even when he allowed a significant number of goals against, the Devils were able to turn the tide, scoring at least three goals in every win since the Olympic break. 

It’s no secret that Markstrom’s had a rough season, with minus-11.1 goals saved above expected and a .799 high-danger SV%. As a result, he’s received extensive criticism for the two-year, $12 million extension he signed at the end of October. Nonetheless, Markstrom’s recent improvement is noticeable, and he deserves to end the season on a high note. 

Connor Brown’s Hot Streak

A large portion of the Devils’ secondary scoring has come from none other than veteran right wing Connor Brown. All season long, he’s proven to be an excellent addition, but his point production throughout March has been instrumental to the team’s success. In his last 10 games, he’s earned 12 points, three of which came on the power play.

Related: Devils Showing Resilience in Final Stretch of the Season

He had an exceptional performance against the New York Rangers on Wednesday night, recording a goal and two assists — his fourth multipoint game in March so far. Brown has also averaged 2.11 shots on goal per game this month, including a season-high of six shots against the Maple Leafs.

In addition, he’s been invaluable to the Devils’ special teams. Brown leads the club’s forwards with an average of 1:54 shorthanded ice time per game and also excels at generating scoring chances on the penalty kill. On the power play, he’s been on the ice for 12 goals for, along with 49 high-danger scoring chances. His first season in New Jersey has been a massive success, and his role as a dependable scorer has earned him a spot in the Devils’ top six.

Can Their Back-to-Back Luck Continue?

This weekend marks the Devils’ ninth set of back-to-back games this season. Their track record during these matchups has been historically poor, sweeping just three back-to-backs so far.

Earlier this month, they pulled off two consecutive wins at home, but this time around, it poses its own set of challenges. For starters, they’ll kick things off at the Lenovo Center, facing off against the Carolina Hurricanes in a late afternoon showdown. Then, the team will fly home in time to face the Blackhawks on Sunday at Prudential Center.

The stakes will be even higher against their Metropolitan Division rivals, who have won all three contests so far this season. All in all, the Devils are in for an interesting end to the week, which will serve to test their recent confidence.