With the Montreal Canadiens preparing to face the New Jersey Devils on Thursday night, it’s hard to ignore the heavyweight matchup this is. It’s two of the best teams in the NHL and two Stanley Cup hopefuls. The Canadiens are coming off a shootout loss, yet have the best record in the Atlantic Division while the Devils are still a top team in the Metropolitan Division despite a rough western road trip.
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The big-picture look at these two teams is that the Canadiens are where the Devils were. A few years back, the Devils burst on the scene as a Cup contender and have been one since. The Canadiens are putting themselves in that spot but must be wary of the traps they can fall into.
Canadiens & Devils Have Similar Roster Builds
The Canadiens built their team through the draft. With Juraj Slafkovsky and Ivan Demidov becoming regulars and star-caliber players, the forward unit suddenly has plenty of firepower. The Canadiens are a team that’s proven throughout the season that no lead is safe, as their top six can turn a corner at any point and pile up the goals.
The Devils have the same type of forward unit. With Jack Hughes, Jesper Bratt, and Nico Hischier leading the way, they can score and score in bunches. This version of the Devils also has depth but with their core leading the way, they can overwhelm just about any defense.
The forward units lead the way but the defenses are also great. Specifically, they have at least two puck-handling defensemen who can open things up at the point and make everyone better on the ice. With the Devils, it’s Luke Hughes and Dougie Hamilton, while the Canadiens have Lane Hutson and Noah Dobson.
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The Devils and Canadiens don’t have stars in the net (although Jakub Dobes is starting to make a case as one). However, they both have reliable tandems, and it’s prevented the unit from letting them down. It’s also ensured that both teams have rosters built to compete for the Cup, which is suddenly the expectation for both teams.
The Window Opens But Can Easily Shut
The Devils had their breakthrough in the 2022-23 season. After a decade of irrelevance, they won 52 games to secure the second-best record in the Metropolitan Division. After beating the New York Rangers in seven games in the First Round, they looked like a team on the rise. Their championship window was open.
Instead of making an aggressive push to win the Cup, they stayed patient, trusting the core that was in place. That led to a step back in 2023-24, where they missed the playoffs, and a lost season in 2024-25, where the pile up of injuries had them stumbling into the playoffs.
The lesson for the Canadiens is that this is their first season in the contention conversation. Last season was a pleasant surprise for a rebuilding team as they snuck into the playoffs as a wild card. Now, they are one of the top teams in the conference. With a great season, they must take advantage.
That means they must make a move or two to get this team over the hump. The Canadiens have plenty of prospects, and it’s easy to look at their roster and take a patient approach. The Devils are a case in point that these great seasons can’t be taken for granted.
Expectations Will Change For The Canadiens
The Canadiens are a fun team. They might not be great but at the very least, they are an exciting team to watch. As a rebuilding team that’s turned the corner, they are also a great story. At some point, they no longer remain a great story, and the expectations change.
The Devils are experiencing this now. Even with a great record, the standard is to make a deep playoff run, and anything short of that is a disappointment. The Canadiens might be a feel-good type of team, at least for one more season, but it won’t be long until they are put on a high pedestal as well, and the pressure shifts.
What To Expect Between the Canadiens & Devils on Thursday
If the Tuesday night game, where the Canadiens trailed 3-0 to the Philadelphia Flyers and battled back to lose 5-4 in a shootout, is a slight indication, this game will have fireworks. If the season for the Canadiens and Devils is any indication, this game will have plenty of exciting moments.
The Canadiens and Devils are led by their offenses and should trade goals. Of course, this means that the game will probably be a defensive struggle but expect a fun one between these two teams. Moreover, expect a game that feels like a playoff matchup between two great teams, even if it’s still early in the season.
