The New Jersey Devils and Florida Panthers — two of the Eastern Conference’s most disappointing teams in 2025-26 — met on Tuesday night at Prudential Center with a chance to get some positive vibes going.
On the heels of a great performance from Jacob Markstrom, the Devils won a second straight for the first time in 11 games, routing Florida 5-1.
Related: The NHL’s Best Farm Systems Ranked – 2025-26 Midseason Update
Break Glass in Case of Emergency
With Friday’s Mar. 6 trade deadline rapidly approaching, Devils forward Cody Glass’ name has floated around among potential candidates to help a contender. The 26-year-old former sixth overall pick has had (by far) the best goal-scoring season of his career, and he added to it with a second period insurance goal tonight.
While he missed some time with injury, he now has 14 goals in 49 games — a ~23-goal pace over a full season. It should go without saying: that’s remarkable for a team’s third-line center.
Furthermore, Glass is one of the team’s best defensive forwards as well. He’s now a plus-1 on the season; if you don’t deem that impressive, consider that the team’s goal differential is minus-27. That plus-1 leads all skaters who have played 25+ games.
He’s also a career-best 53.3% in the face-off dot. Will the Devils sell high on Glass or hang on to a young player who certainly appears to be helpful to their future? We’ll find out soon.
“[Cody] feels confident and comfortable in who he is,” said head coach Sheldon Keefe. “He’s bounced around the league, he’s fought injuries, all these kinds of things … He’s one guy who has really been thriving offensively in terms of finishing all season. But to me, other areas of his game [have improved] — he’s way harder in D-zone coverage, he closes quicker, he’s better on face-offs. He’s taken on a bigger role on the penalty kill here of late. So he’s just become a very important and versatile guy, especially as a right-handed center. I’ve really liked his game for quite some time now.”
Jacob Markstrom Continuing Stellar Play
After a rough few months to start the season, Devils’ netminder Jacob Markstrom has seemed to be finding his groove. Sure, while it’s too late in terms of the team’s playoff hopes, any positive momentum sustained during this final stretch could turn into good down the road.
At the end of the day, with Markstrom’s two-year extension not kicking in until next season, he’s someone the team will have to rely on a good amount. In his last five starts, he’s now 3-2-0 with a .934 save percentage (SV%) — fourth among all 50 NHL goalies during that span.
That was the #NJDevils first 4+ goal victory since November 28th, when they beat the Sabres 5-0.
95 days.
— JP Gambatese (@jp_gambatese) March 4, 2026
Tonight, he stopped 20 of 21 (.952 SV%) for an incredible +3.39 goals saved above expected. On 2.83 “expected high danger goals”, he didn’t allow a single one. (via Moneypuck)
“Marky is a high-volume starter,” said Keefe. “We went through this last year and he came back from injury and it took him a while to get going … He wants to play all the time. So the fact that everyone else was taking [the Olympic] break and he stayed regular and took the net for Sweden in the Olympics, he just came back and was feeling really good, and he’s carried that through.”
Arseny Gritsyuk Poised for a Breakout?
Arseny Gritsyuk’s overall numbers in his first National Hockey League (NHL) season may not jump off the page, but he’s been a very solid all-around player. He opened the scoring tonight, breaking a 10-game goal-less drought with a perfect shot over the shoulder of fellow Russian Sergei Bobrovsky during a 2-on-1.
It wasn’t just any 2-on-1; he looked off Jack Hughes and scored. Talk about confidence. “(All) my life I want to score on Russian goalies… Shesterkin, Sorokin… Bobrovsky… but Bobrovsky is like 1st place for me,” said Gritsyuk postgame with a beaming smile. “I scored today on him. But I don’t understand how I score. I don’t see when puck go in! I don’t pass Jack, you know, like ‘Oh my god, what I do!’ but when I score, for sure, it’s very good stuff for me.”
Who doesn’t love breakfast for dinna! pic.twitter.com/47zf04fBp0
— New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) March 4, 2026
Over a full season, Gritsyuk is on pace for ~13 goals and 34 points. At 5v5, he is third among regular Devils skaters (40+ games played) with 1.57 points per 60 minutes (P/60), trailing only Glass (1.69 P/60) and Jack Hughes (1.58 P/60).
Like Glass, he’s shown defensive responsibility as well. With Gritsyuk on the ice, the Devils have allowed just 2.37 expected goals per 60 (xGA/60) — the best mark on the entire team. (via Natural Stat Trick)
Is a Gritsyuk breakout coming!? It wouldn’t be surprising in the slightest.
Moving Forward
The Devils — now 30-29-2 — will return to action tomorrow night as they remain home to face the struggling Toronto Maple Leafs.
