Jake Allen legitimizes New Jersey Devils as true contenders in net

The New Jersey Devils went into Monday's matinee against the Utah Hockey Club knowing they were facing a good team. UHC came in unbeaten, going 3-0-0 to start their franchise's run. However, it was a dominant performance by the Devils that left them with two more points in the standings. There were multiple breakout performances, but it was the play of Jake Allen that shut the door.

"Any time you give up 20 shots and getting great goaltending at the same time when you make mistakes, you know it's going to be a good night on both sides of the puck," head coach Sheldon Keefe said postgame. "It's hard for me to find a guy I didn't like today. Good team win. That's why you give up 20 shots and no goals. Top to bottom of the lineup, everyone was good today."

Goaltender Jake Allen notched his 25th career shutout after stopping all 20 shots against the Utah Hockey Club, helping the New Jersey Devils hand them their first loss of the year.

He needed to be sharp early. A turnover on the goal line led to a point-blank chance by Alex Kerfoot from above the crease. Allen managed to get a glove on the puck to knock it away. He was solid throughout the game, especially while handling shots through heavy traffic. He earned his second win in the process.

Allen won the Stanley Cup with the Blues in 2019 as the backup to rookie Jordan Binnington. He also played with Martin Brodeur in the GOAT's short stint in St. Louis. He has seen and heard of championship aspirations.

He was traded to the Montreal Canadiens on Sept. 2, 2020, and was part of a goalie rotation with Sam Montembeault and Cayden Primeau during the 2023-24 season before he was traded to the New Jersey Devils on March 8, 2024, for a conditional third-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft.

Allen's last shutout was on Feb. 14, 2023, he had 22 saves for the Montreal Canadiens in a 4-0 victory against the Chicago Blackhawks at Bell Centre.

His 20 saves in a 3-0 win against the Utah Hockey Club on tonight's game — Oct. 14 — was his first shutout with the Devils and 25th in the NHL.

The shutout made him write history. It made him the first goalie in NHL history with wins against all 33 different franchises. Hopefully, he can help the Devils write even more history this season.