The New Jersey Devils have lost six out of their last eight games, continuing their struggling stretch. Their 22-19-2 record puts them sixth in the Metropolitan Division, and inconsistent goaltending has played a major role in their struggles. Players like Nico Hischier and Jesper Bratt have provided strong offensive moments, but defensive lapses have left the team allowing over three goals per game.
A recent lopsided loss to the Islanders brought attention to Jacob Markstrom’s challenges in net.
Jacob Markstrom Opens Up After One of the Worst Goalie Games in NHL History
Markstrom had a rough night during New Jersey’s 9-0 loss to the New York Islanders on Tuesday. Islanders goalie Ilya Sorokin returned from injury and stopped 44 shots for a shutout while Anthony Duclair scored a hat trick and had five points.
Markstrom allowed nine goals on 24 shots and admitted he struggled with angles and coverage. “Yeah, I mean, that’s embarrassing. From my part, angles, that’s a joke. That’s a joke. That’s a tough one. … We want to apologize to the Devils fans. I have to be better and stop more pucks. We put up 40-plus shots. What did they put up, 20? And scored nine? I’m embarrassed for myself and toward my teammates and the team and defense. So, it’s not good enough,” he said.
The game drew attention on X when NHL analyst Patrick Bacon shared a chart of the worst single-game performances by goalies. After correcting an error that included shootout goals, Markstrom still ranked first. His expected goals against (xGA) was 1.66, but he allowed nine goals, giving a Goals Saved Above Expected (GSAx) of -7.34. This shows he gave up seven more goals than expected, marking one of the worst goaltending games in NHL history.
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Markstrom, 35, has had a mixed season so far. He has a 10-10-1 record with a 3.48 goals-against average and a .878 save percentage over 22 games. Backup Jake Allen has been more reliable, and Nico Daws impressed in his only appearance with a 1.00 GAA and .968 save percentage. Overall, the Devils’ goalies have a combined 22-19-2 record with a 3.09 GAA, showing moments of strong play, but inconsistency remains an issue.
Even after this difficult game, Markstrom remains a key part of the Devils’ goalie tandem. His honesty about the performance and focus on improvement show his dedication to the team. The Devils will look to bounce back in their next game on Jan. 8, when they host the Pittsburgh Penguins at 7:00 p.m. ET, hoping for stronger goaltending and tighter defensive play.
