Allen 'Rock Solid' for Devils | NOTEBOOK

The Devils practiced on Monday before heading to Toronto to face the Maple Leafs. The Devils will play in Toronto on Tuesday night before returning to New Jersey to host the Minnesota Wild on Wednesday.

Check out the notebook for the latest info, updates, interviews, videos and more from the practice session!

Practice Details

The Devils took to the ice for a morning practice before heading to Toronto to play the Maple Leafs on Tuesday night. With the Devils riding a four-game win streak, there weren't any changes to report when it comes to the lineup, other than forward Stefan Noesen taking the full reps on the fourth line as he continues to work his way back from injury.

With Noesen taking those reps, Brian Halonen teamed up with Dennis Cholowski as an extra defensive pairing. This is a common thing for head coach Sheldon Keefe, who likes to have complete pairings at practice when he has extra bodies to allow him to get the most out of the drills without overworking players.

Noesen won't play in Toronto, Keefe confirmed, but is nearing a return.

"We will see about the second half of the back-to-back," Keefe said of Noesen's availability. The Devils play at home against the Minnesota Wild on Wednesday as their second game on back-to-back nights.

Power Kill

It's not a guarantee that certain trends from one season to the next carry over. But the Devils are certainly fortunate that their penalty kill, which was among the best last season, is once again taking care of business. Although, as Brenden Dillon says, they are probably getting a little too much work early in the season, when they are called upon, they’re getting the job done - and some. New Jersey’s PK is third in the league at 95 percent efficiency, behind only Buffalo (95.7) and Winnipeg (95.5). But the Devils do lead the league in net penalty kill percentage, at 105 percent, scoring two shorthanded goals, most recently, Connor Brown versus the Oilers.

“We just really care about it,” Dillon said. “We really just want it to be a big part of our team. It can be a big momentum changer, positively or negatively, when you get a penalty kill. You’re playing against the other team's top players. Everyone that is killing (penalties) really, we just really care about it. We want to do well, we want to be the best we can. Whether it’s a blocked shot, a stick, a battle, whatever it is.”

And when it comes to being able to capitalize and score the occasional shorthanded goal, well, that’s just an added dimension they take pride in.

“That’s the flip side of it,” Dillon continued. “We’ve got the speed and we’ve got the smarts to make plays on the PK side too. We’ve scored a couple now. I think collectively we’re all on the same page for the most part. We talk a lot out there, the four-man unit. That’s got to be something you hope that gets into the other team's mind because then they’re not thinking about themselves.”

Rock Solid

Ever since Jacob Markstrom went down with his lower-body injury in Columbus, the Devils have been riding fellow veteran netminder Jake Allen in the net. He's helped the team string together its first four-game win streak since January 2023 and has looked as sharp as ever. Allen will once again take to the net in Toronto for his fourth straight start.

“Jaker is a huge part of the locker room,” Dillon said. “His experience, the way he handles himself day-to-day. I don’t think in his head he was planning on playing this many in a row early on and I think for him though, he’s such a solid goaltender, he’s done it for a long time, there’s a reason why it was so important, so crucial to bring him back for us. And for the type of person he is, I think all of us want to block that extra shot for him, do that extra clear out of the way. He’s been unbelievable for us early on. He’s just rock solid.”

Through his three games, Allen has a 1.88 goals against average and a .934 save percentage. And although the sample size is still small, having played just three games, there is so much more to Allen than those numbers. He is a revered teammate and an undenaiable leader in the Devils locker room.

“He’s outstanding,” Keefe said. “He’s been in the league a long time, he’s had such great experiences, he’s been on winning teams. His perspective goes a long way. He is absolutely team-first. He really wants to see this team do well, he really wants to win here with this team and showed that with his commitment to staying here. And then you look at the situation now, Marky goes down and he’s got to step up and he’s just been rock solid."

Allen will get the start in Toronto, Keefe confirmed, while Nico Daws will make his season debut on Wednesday, at home against the Wild.

Jake and the Jersey Girls

While the Devils had the day off on Sunday, Jake Allen still found himself on the ice at Prudential Center. As part World Girls Hockey Day, part of the IIHF’s annual initiative to grow girls’ participation in hockey across the world, Allen and two of his three daughters hit the ice along with the Jersey Girls Hockey Club. In collaboration with the Devils and USA Hockey it was an opportunity for young girls to try hockey for free and get up close and personal with Devils alumni as well as Allen who put on the coaches track suit.

“I think it’s just a way to give back,” Allen said. “We’re always talking about growing the game. And obviously we see what the women’s game is doing right now in the world, and especially North America. And it starts here. It starts at these programs and these levels that generate interest and passion, and the Devils have put on a great program here to get girls involved.”

For more on the girls takeover of Prudential Center, check out the full article here!