Devils get coming-up-short start as they fall 5-3 to the “Mammoth” in Tuesday action

The New Jersey Devils’ early-season rhythm ran into resistance on Tuesday, when they dropped a 5-3 decision to the team referred to in the league roundup as the “Mammoth.” The game was framed as a “coming up short” edition, underscoring how quickly small details can swing outcomes in the NHL’s early weeks.

Special teams were a focal point in the way the matchup unfolded. According to the Yahoo Sports roundup, the Devils went 2-for-4 on the power play, a mark that suggests New Jersey was capable of creating chances with the man advantage. Even so, the overall scoring output was not enough to overcome the opponent’s five-goal total.

A 5-3 scoreline also points to a more open, high-event game environment than a typical low-scoring affair. In practical terms, that kind of game places a premium on maintaining defensive structure for entire shifts, not just during key moments. If both sides are trading scoring runs, the margin for error on coverage and zone exits becomes thinner.

What makes this result notable for the Devils is the contrast between power-play success and the final outcome. Converting two of four power plays is productive, but it does not automatically translate into a win if even one scoring chance or turnover snowballs on even strength or the penalty kill. For New Jersey, the immediate task is to connect special-teams competence with a broader, 200-foot game that limits the number of costly scoring opportunities allowed.

The broader NHL context matters, too. Early in the season, teams are still calibrating line combinations, defensive pairings, and goaltending workloads, while also sorting out what roles different players will hold night to night. A result like this tends to raise internal questions about how to protect leads, handle game momentum, and prevent the opponent from building a lead that the power play alone cannot erase.

Looking ahead, the most important thing to watch is whether the Devils can sustain the kind of power-play efficiency they showed in the 2-for-4 conversion, while tightening the overall defensive performance that determines whether those special-teams goals become decisive. A 5-3 loss is not a single-skill failure, but it does highlight a need for more consistency across phases as the season continues.