The New Jersey Devils faced off against the Seattle Kraken on January 25, 2026, in a Sunday matinee that ended in a disappointing 4-2 loss for the Devils. Here are three key takeaways from the game:

1. Special Teams Struggles

The Devils' special teams play was a mixed bag, but ultimately contributed to their downfall. Dougie Hamilton scored a power-play goal in the first period, exposing a recent Kraken flaw of surrendering the first goal in multiple consecutive games. Jack Hughes added another power-play goal in the third period. However, the Kraken's grind-it-out style at 5-on-5 proved superior, which was critical because they lost the special teams battle. The Devils were unable to capitalize on their power play opportunities, going 0-4 with the man advantage.

2. Goaltending and Defensive Lapses

While goaltender Joey Daccord made 27 saves for the Kraken, including a dozen in the third period, to break a personal three-game losing streak, the Devils' defensive coverage had lapses. Seattle's goals came from Ryker Evans in the first period and Matty Beniers and Berkly Catton in the third, with Jordan Eberle adding an empty-netter. The Devils allowed the Kraken to dictate play for extended periods, making it difficult to generate offense.

3. Missed Opportunity to Gain Ground

Despite their struggles this year, the Devils are only a few points out of a wild-card playoff spot. This game against the Kraken, a team with a 3-5-2 record in its last ten games, represented a significant opportunity to gain ground in the standings. The loss underscores the importance of capitalizing on games against weaker teams to secure crucial points. The Devils have struggled to maintain consistency, making it difficult to string together wins and climb the standings.