3 takeaways from Devils’ dramatic overtime win over Colorado – Hockey Writer – New Jersey Devils

The New Jersey Devils take on the Colorado Avalanche on Sunday afternoon to become the NHL’s top team and have won seven straight. Although they faced more adversity than they had in previous games, the end result was the same: Jack Hughes scored the game-winner in overtime, his eighth goal in as many games, to give the Devils a 4-3 victory.

Relevant: Jack Hughes leads Devils to 4-3 overtime win over Avalanche

For the first time in a while… adversity.

The Devils have been so good for so long that it’s hard to face adversity. When they took a huge 2-0 lead, it seemed like their eight-game winning streak would go more smoothly. Come on, Xue Beng said. not so fast Valeri Nichushkin and Nathan Mackinnon tied the game with goals each within four minutes. The Devils haven’t seen a lead like this all season so far.

To make matters worse, Brett Pace blocked Brent Burns’ shot with 5:21 left in the first quarter and did not return to the game. The Devils lost a defenseman but still managed to beat one of the NHL’s top teams and complete a three-game home sweep.

Jack Hughes has scored eight goals in his last eight games.

this #NJDevils He hasn’t lost since his first goal. pic.twitter.com/F8SrkkYsDE

— Daniel Amoia (@daniel_amoia) October 26, 2025

Unfortunately, according to head coach Sheldon Keefe, Brett Pace is “not great” and will not be traveling with the team on their upcoming road trip. As we saw today, that makes their ability to overcome adversity even more important.

“When you lose not just a defenseman but a complete defenseman like Pace, it’s a call to action, especially against a team like this [Colorado] “It was very dynamic offensively. But we just got back to work,” Keefe said. “We had some chances late and then obviously came up big in overtime (…) It’s kind of like what you deal with all season.” “

Arseny Gritsyuk continues to produce

With the Devils’ depth scoring situation being so poor last season, Arseni Grichuk was definitely a bright spot. He’s now on pace for 18 goals and 55 points. While many fans are calling for the Devils to add a top-six tight end this offseason, Grichuk is starting to prove he belongs there long-term.

It’s not just about scoring: He’s surprisingly athletic and has shown a mature defensive ability that prompted head coach Sheldon Keefe to call him a “well-rounded player” after the game against Minnesota. Today was no different: He leads the team in field goals (10), is second in scoring chances (three) and leads the team in hits (three).

He worked really well alongside Timo Meier and Nico Hischier, in fact, they didn’t give some of the Avs’ dynamic talents any chance to rush in 12:21 of ice time.

“[Arseny] Came out here and played some really good hockey,” Jack said. “I think people probably didn’t know what to expect from him, but I know myself and the guys in this room were excited about how good he was. Hopefully he can be part of our core for a long time. “

Brendan Dillon continues to be rock solid

Brenden Dillon totaled 16 points last season; he added an assist today and is now on pace to hit around 45. While that pace may not be sustainable, it’s not just the offensive production that makes him such an important part of this streak:

He didn’t appear to miss a beat after undergoing artificial disc replacement surgery in the offseason. According to NHL EDGE, his maximum skating speed is 21.29 miles per hour (MPH), which is above the league average and ranks 64th. Today, once Pace goes down, the Devils will have to rely on him even more. He played a total of 19 minutes and 31 seconds. Despite the tight competition, the Devils defeated the Avs 9-6 with Dillon on the court. (via Natural Statistics Tips)

Beyond the numbers, there are always little things that don’t show up on the scoresheet for Dillon. In Game 2, he hit a huge hit that Keefe believed gave the team a “boost.” With about 5:30 left in the third period, AV was buzzing in its own zone, but Dillon effectively spoiled a scoring opportunity with an active stick that would have resulted in a high-danger field goal.

“He scored a few goals for us, but it just doesn’t fit with his character. But what you expect from him is consistency and competitiveness,” Keefe added.

His consistency has helped young guard Simon Nemec get off to a very strong start – seven points in nine games, including three assists today. The fact that the Devils’ defense is deep enough (when healthy) to allow Dillon to be the bottom pair is an absolute luxury. Nemec and Dillon are on pace to score a combined 108 points this season – while that’s certainly not sustainable, it does speak to the depth of their defense.

go ahead

The two teams will face off again on Tuesday (October 28) in Colorado (9:00 p.m. ET) to wrap up the homestand.