3 Takeaways From Devils’ Thrilling 5-4 OT Win Over Red Wings

The New Jersey Devils hit the road on the second half of a back-to-back to face the Detroit Red Wings, after falling to the Ottawa Senators 4-1 at home on Monday night. The Red Wings also looked to bounce back, following a shootout loss to the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday.

Heading into the game, pressure on the Devils’ offense was at an all-time high. Even though they’ve generated more shots on goal and shot attempts than any of their opponents this season, they still hadn’t been able to score the first goal. But they managed to shift the tide in their favor against the Red Wings.

After achieving consistency and cohesion, the Devils came away with a 5-4 overtime victory.

Mantha-Rodrigues-Noesen Shows Serious Chemistry

With Luke Evangelista out of the lineup due to illness, the Devils saw quite a few line changes against the Red Wings. For starters, the Meier-Hischier-Mercer line was reinstated, but the first and third lines also received a makeover. Arseny Gritsyuk joined Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt on the top line, which proved to be a wise decision on behalf of head coach Sheldon Keefe.

However, the most impactful change was slotting Anthony Mantha in on the third line. As a matter of fact, the Mantha-Rodrigues-Noesen line achieved something that had evaded the team for five straight games — scoring the opening goal. 

For the very first time this season, New Jersey got on the board first, after Evan Rodrigues scored his first goal as a Devil six minutes into the opening period. Stefan Noesen fed the puck to Rodrigues, who sent it past John Gibson from the slot. 

This newly formed line combination possesses a level of grit that could provide a bottom-six resurgence. Together, they brought a strong forecheck, a reliable veteran presence, and depth scoring. 

Mantha also netted his first goal as a Devil, tying the score at two in the second period. Rodrigues began the play by passing the puck up the ice toward Dawson Mercer, setting Mantha up for a snap shot. Given Rodrigues and Mantha’s immediate chemistry, it should come as no surprise to see some variation of their line in future games.

Consistency Is Key

What really stood out for the Devils was their ability to fight back. No matter how many times the Red Wings tied the game, they refused to back down. Instead, it was a battle that spanned all three periods, and the Devils would eventually be rewarded in overtime.

In previous games, they struggled to regain momentum after giving up a lead, but the Devils didn’t miss a beat in the second period. Three minutes after Mantha tied the game, Nico Hischier tipped the puck into the net on his backhand, scoring his third power-play goal of the season. As a result, he is now tied with Travis Zajac and Bobby Holik for the third-most goals in franchise history.

Even after allowing Detroit to tie the game at the end of the second, the Devils rallied yet again when Bratt made it a 4-3 game. The Red Wings would score once more in regulation, evening things up with Alex DeBrincat’s second goal of the evening.

Last night showcased some of the Devils’ best playmaking. In particular, they excelled at generating high-danger scenarios and chances on the rush, and were finally able to convert their high number of scoring attempts into goals. They’ll definitely need to maintain that system against the New York Rangers later this week, who have already scored four or more goals five times this season.

Jack Hughes Leads the Way

The Devils could not have asked for more out of their top six, but it was Hughes who dominated the ice. He led New Jersey’s forwards in ice time with 23:31 and ended the night with three points — his best game of the season thus far. 

Hughes began with an assist on Hischier’s power-play goal, racing through the neutral zone to set up the play that put the Devils ahead 3-2. His second assist came just six minutes later, restoring their lead once again. He handled Dougie Hamilton’s rebound, which was then picked up by Jonas Siegenthaler, before Bratt found the back of the net.

Each maneuver highlights his speed and visionary playmaking — both of which have the ability to shift the momentum of a given game. According to data from NHL Edge, he ranks in the 97th percentile with 71 speed bursts between 18 and 20 miles per hour. Likewise, he remains near the top of the league’s forwards in shots on goal (25) and most miles skated per game (4.69).

Hail to the Victor. https://t.co/ssGiIKxWwU

— New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) October 14, 2026

Against the Red Wings, Hughes contributed a whopping 18 shot attempts, 11 scoring chances, five high-danger opportunities, and eight shots. But it was his finale in overtime that stole the show. Bratt fired the puck up the ice, and Hughes took full advantage of the breakaway opportunity, earning his second game-winning goal of 2026-27.

Devils Back in Action Thursday Night

The Devils will return to Prudential Center on Thursday night, where they will face the Rangers for the first time this season. Puck drop will be at 7:00 PM ET, and the stage is set for a battle against their Hudson River rivals.