New Jersey Devils’ Depth Scoring Surge Fuels Late Wins and 2026‑27 Hopes

The New Jersey Devils have opened the 2026‑27 campaign in impressive fashion, posting a 12‑5‑0 record. Since General Manager Sunny Mehta took the reins, the club’s strategic roster moves have consistently exceeded expectations, turning every calculated risk into a measurable gain.

Early in the season, the primary concerns were depth scoring and goaltending. Subsequent tweaks to the middle and bottom six, coupled with the acquisition of veteran netminder Connor Hellebuyck, have sparked a remarkable run. The Devils have secured eight of their last ten contests, most notably dispatching the New York Islanders 5‑4 in overtime on Saturday night.

Secondary scoring has emerged as a quiet catalyst behind the team’s resurgence, with the bottom six delivering clutch performances that complement the star power above.

Connor Brown has become a pivotal three‑way contributor after missing the season’s outset due to a lower‑body injury. Returning on Oct. 20 against the Colorado Avalanche, Brown has amassed three goals and five points. His most recent impact came against his former team, the Edmonton Oilers, where he notched a goal and an assist.

The Lombardi‑Glass‑Brown line provides stability on the fourth line, but Brown’s influence extends to special teams. He is a disruptive force on the penalty kill, routinely generating shorthanded chances—exemplified by his bounce‑in goal against the Avalanche. Recently shifted to the top power‑play unit for added consistency, Brown responded immediately, tying the Oilers game with a power‑play marker assisted by the Hughes brothers. He also contributed an assist on Jack Hughes’s second‑period goal, finishing the night with two points on the man advantage.

Man advantage? Not for them. https://t.co/GiINOBaJn9

— New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) October 29, 2026

Following the tweet, Brown continued to bolster the Devils’ scoring depth, illustrating how his versatility and competitiveness are strengthening the club’s overall effort.

Anthony Mantha: Third‑Line Stability

When the Devils inked Anthony Mantha to a two‑year contract in July, the initial plan was to place him on the top line alongside Hughes and Jesper Bratt. Despite early chemistry, the trio required more time to synchronize, prompting head coach Sheldon Keefe to reposition Mantha on the third line with Evan Rodrigues and Jesper Boqvist. This adjustment was never a demotion; rather, it aligned Mantha’s power‑forward style with a line that maximizes his finishing ability.

The Mantha‑Rodrigues‑Boqvist combination is generating noteworthy statistics. According to MoneyPuck, the line averages 4.87 goals per 60 minutes and records 46.79 shot attempts, underscoring its offensive reliability.

Mantha has demonstrated flexibility throughout the lineup. During a brief stint on the top line against the St. Louis Blues, he contributed a two‑goal lead and recorded three second‑period points, including an assist on Boqvist’s goal and a breakaway tally. He ends the season on a strong note, posting four goals and eight points in his last eight games.

Reflecting on his chemistry with the linemates after the Blues victory, Mantha said, “It feels great. A game like tonight obviously probably gives us more confidence as a line…If your top guys are playing great and then your bottom six are doing the same thing, then like I said before, we’re going to be really hard to play against.”

Amadeus Lombardi: A Hidden Gem

The Devils’ fourth line has seen a transformative improvement this season, largely due to the emergence of Amadeus Lombardi. He debuted in the home‑opener and has appeared in all but two games for the 2026‑27 campaign.

General Manager Sunny Mehta’s objective was to secure a high‑ceiling player through a low‑risk transaction, and Lombardi embodied that scenario. The young forward was acquired just before the 2026 NHL Draft in exchange for a fourth‑round pick after four seasons with the Grand Rapids Griffins, where he compiled 69 points in 163 AHL contests.

Lombardi now occupies Stefan Noesen’s former spot on the fourth line, earning a full‑time role. In his rookie NHL season, he has contributed four assists, two of which came during the Devils’ dominant 7‑1 victory over the New York Rangers. Although he is still seeking his first NHL goal, Lombardi has recorded career‑high shot attempts on goal twice, showcasing his growing confidence.

His defensive responsibility, ability to transition the puck, and work ethic have turned a once‑weakened line into a reliable source of consistency. As the season progresses, Lombardi’s development continues to bolster the Devils’ depth scoring, a critical asset for their playoff aspirations.

Overall, the Devils’ secondary scoring has become a cornerstone of their early‑season success. Veteran contributors like Mantha and Brown, combined with youthful talent such as Lombardi, have fortified an area that was previously a liability, positioning the team well for the latter half of the campaign and beyond.

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