The New Jersey Devils are on a four-game winning streak, and it’s becoming clear this team is carving out an identity under Head Coach Sheldon Keefe, with defensive guidance from Brad Shaw and offensive management from Jeremy Colliton. After a confounding loss to Carolina, the Devils rebounded in emphatic fashion, picking up wins against a Florida Panthers team missing Aleksander Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk, and a loaded Edmonton Oilers roster.
But these victories are about more than the scoreboard—they reveal a team learning to maximize its strengths and exploit opponents’ weaknesses.
One thing is obvious: the Devils will not beat a team like Edmonton or Minnesota in a speed-for-speed matchup. They have to frustrate these teams, slow them down, play like Swiss Pikemen, and hit hard like Sasquatches when clogging the neutral zones and executing precise forechecks.
The more you frustrate elite teams, the easier it is for them to cough up the puck. That philosophy has been on full display over the past week and will be critical on Wednesday against the Wild. The New Jersey Devils' ability to penetrate and generate turnovers against Edmonton led to Jack Hughes scoring two goals, including one where he appeared to use a samba move on Calvin Pickard near The Ironbound Section. Connor Brown had a huge insurance goal on the penalty kill that is NJ's 2nd shorthanded goal in a five-game span (2.5 games the Devils average a shorthanded goal scored).
Watching the Devils in person, one can see the mid-neutral-zone trap in action. The scheme is deceptively simple but deadly when executed properly. One forechecker pressures the puck aggressively at the blue line, aiming for a takeaway.
Meanwhile, forecheckers two and three drape themselves over the flanks, clogging passing lanes and limiting options. If the initial forechecker fails to win the puck outright, he can retreat and aid his teammates, forming a layered defensive structure that forces opponents into low-percentage plays or dump-ins. This is not passive defense; it’s a calculated, adaptable system that buys time, controls space, and allows the Devils to transition into offense on their terms.
Take the Oilers game as an example. Midway through the second period, Connor McDavid carried the puck through the neutral zone. The first Devils forechecker immediately pressured him, while two and three draped the flanks, creating a choke point. McDavid had to make a risky pass or dump the puck in. When the puck was dumped, New Jersey’s defensemen were already in position to recover possession and spark a counterattack. The result: the Oilers were forced into low-percentage decisions, while the Devils could create scoring opportunities off the turnover.
This strategy accomplishes two things. First, it disrupts the timing of elite offenses, slowing them down and frustrating star players. High-octane teams rely on flow and confidence, and when every entry is contested, hesitation sets in. Second, it leverages the Devils’ strengths. By dictating where the puck enters and controlling the neutral zone, they reduce risk while creating scoring chances for forwards and defensemen ready to jump on turnovers.
And the same principles apply against Minnesota. The Wild are structured, quick, and defensively responsible, but they can be forced into uncomfortable situations, as seen against Edmonton. Arseny Gritsyuk, with his high-energy forechecking, could become a critical factor in this approach. His speed and hockey IQ allow him to pressure puck carriers effectively, intercept passes, and generate immediate breakout opportunities. If Gritsyuk consistently forces turnovers, he could yield more goals and points than most experts anticipate, turning frustration into offensive productivity.
Minnesota presents additional challenges in Brock Faber and Kirill Kaprizov. Faber, a mobile and offensively capable defenseman, will test the Devils’ forecheck and mid-zone trap, forcing players like Luke Hughes and Simon Nemec to read the play and anticipate breakout passes. Kaprizov, the Wild’s primary offensive engine, will require disciplined gap control and relentless attention from both Devils forwards and defensemen. The Swiss Pikemen strategy requires structured positioning, draping the flanks, and forcing turnovers. That's key to limiting Kaprizov’s space and preventing Minnesota from generating dangerous rushes.
You really don’t need to be a genius to understand it, but having read The Art of War taught us that when an opponent appears weak, they can use that against you. The Devils are capable of looking like a boring or not-so-dangerous team, but opposing teams are going to have to get creative now that Dawson Mercer, Jack Hughes, Connor Brown, Timo Meier, Arseny Gritsyuk, and Jesper Bratt are all clicking offensively.
Simon Nemec is looking more comfortable but is never content playing a 9/10-scale defensive defender role; he’s becoming a linchpin. Luke Hughes has shown growth in offensive breakouts, now looking like Quinn Hughes or even Scott Niedermayer in his ability to negate elite talent like Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, and soon Kaprizov, with smart defensive reads and puck movement.
Ultimately, the Devils’ recent wins are about more than streaks; they’re about identity and execution. Defensive tightening under Brad Shaw, offensive management of transitions, and Keefe’s leadership have created a team capable of controlling pace, frustrating elite offenses, and converting that frustration into scoring opportunities. They’re not trying to outskate teams like Edmonton or Minnesota—they’re outsmarting them. Frustrate, force mistakes, recover the puck, and capitalize. That philosophy is defining this team, and if they continue to execute, New Jersey could soon be a threat to anyone on any given night.