Devils Week Ahead: Schedule & Storylines — “Timo Time,” Jesper Bratt Is Benched, and More – The Hockey Writers – New Jersey Devils

With the 2026 Winter Olympics officially underway, all seven New Jersey Devils representing their native countries have worked their way through the preliminary round. Thus far, each player has led their team to victory at least once. As it stands, the USA, Switzerland, and Sweden are all looking to secure a spot in the quarterfinals, while Slovakia clinched Group B on Saturday.

As the tournament continues, fans can enjoy a break from Devils hockey — and hopefully, it can help the team come back with a fresh mindset, so they can end the season strong.

Here are a few storylines to follow for the week of Feb 15 – Feb 22, 2026.

“Timo Time” in Milan

Timo Meier’s Olympic debut was definitely one for the history books. He scored twice in the third period against France, propelling Switzerland to a 4-0 victory. He finished the game with four shots on goal and a plus-3 rating, becoming the first Swiss player to score two or more goals in an Olympic game. Even though Canada bested Switzerland 5-1 in the following game, Meier was not afraid to use his size to his advantage, landing hits and disrupting opponents’ puck possession.

Related: A Devils Fan’s Guide to the 2026 Winter Olympics

Devils’ captain — and Switzerland’s alternate captain — Nico Hischier had nothing but praise for his teammate in his postgame interview. “Timo is all-around a great player, not just the goals he scored. Also, the forecheck he did and the backcheck, he was very present in this game. He’s all-in for the team,” said Hischier. Meier even went on to score a goal against Czechia, aiding in Switzerland’s 4-3 overtime win.

Jack Hughes’ Impactful Performance for Team USA

At first, it appeared that the Devils’ star forward would have a quiet Olympic tournament after being placed on Team USA’s fourth line. His status was even questionable heading into the preliminary round, since he missed the last three games before the break with a lower-body injury. But Jack Hughes recorded two points in their dominant 5-1 win over Latvia, with the primary assist on both of Brock Nelson’s goals.

The momentum carried over to Saturday, where he scored the final goal in the USA’s 6-3 win against Denmark. Hughes recorded 18:25 of ice time, generating instant chemistry with his new linemates. Moving forward, he’ll play a crucial depth scoring role as the team seeks its first gold medal in men’s hockey since 1980.

Team Sweden Benches Jesper Bratt

In a shocking turn of events, Team Sweden chose to bench Jesper Bratt during Saturday’s matchup against Slovakia. Leading the Devils in assists (28) and tied for the club’s lead in game-winning goals (3), many fans were confused by the decision. But this isn’t the first time an NHL star forward has been kept off the ice. Filip Forsberg was also demoted to being Sweden’s 13th forward, playing just one shift against Italy.

Looking ahead to the rest of the tournament, it will be interesting to see if Bratt can regain the confidence of Sweden’s coaching staff. The team is now 2-0-0-1 after the preliminary round.

Devils Olympic Hockey Schedule Feb 15 — Feb 22