The New Jersey Devils started the hockey season off strong with eight consecutive wins, boosting their standing up to #1 in the NHL’s Metropolitan Division and marking this as New Jersey’s longest winning streak since the team’s 13-game streak in early 2023.
While their streak ended during the team’s away game against the Colorado Avalanches on Wednesday, Oct. 28, with the Avalanches’ Victor Olafsson scoring a goal on the power play, the Devils still keep their standing at the top of the leader board.
Despite the loss, with a score of four from the NJ Devils and eight for the Colorado Avalanches, Jack Hughes, center for the Devils, scored his ninth goal of the season. Dougie Hamilton, Stefan Noesen and Dawson Mercer also scored for New Jersey that night, scoring four times during the stretch of 4:04.
While this 2025-2026 winning streak was not as long as their 2023 season streak, hockey fans at Drew still relished in the eight-game wins stacked up by the New Jersey team.
Transfer student Joshua Woolard (‘28) had much to say on his experience watching this season’s games during his time living on Drew’s campus.
“Definitely a great year to say you’re from Jersey,” Woolard admitted. “I can already hear the Stanley Cup callin’ ‘cause all these teams have been getting packed up and left by the Devils train. Last year for sure had me pondering on existence, but this year we’re stacked and committed to the bit.”
Team manager of the men’s lacrosse team here at Drew, Gabe Hernandez (‘27), credited the excitement for the N.J. Devils’ season to the fact that “there is no other NFL, NBA or MLB team that identifies themself as specifically a New Jersey team.”
“Since we are a much more northern state, people are more likely to engage in…cold-weather activities like hockey,” Hernandez added when asked about Drew University and the significance of its location when considering NJ sports. “You don’t really see a fandom like the Devils.”
The next N.J. Devils game is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 8, at 12:30 p.m. against the Pittsburgh Penguins, with another on Monday, Nov. 10, at 7 p.m. against the New York Islanders. Many other Drew University students will doubtless be watching.
Arianna Marmol is a sophomore majoring in English with a concentration in creative writing and minoring in theater.
