On a difficult returning schedule and Timo Meier's scoring slump

The New Jersey Devils have a very difficult string of games upcoming. Plus, Timo Meier is long overdue for a breakout.

Follow along on Twitter @ToddCordell | @InfernalAccess

Be sure to join the Discord channel to talk hockey with our writers and subscribers.

---

A few New Jersey Devils notes as the NHL is set to resume this weekend:

No easing back in

The Devils haven’t been at their best in 2025 but they gained some traction heading into the 4 Nations break, winning five of their final eight games.

They’ll need to pick up where they left off, and be at their best right away, because the schedule makers have not done them any favors.

Five of the their next six games will be played on the road, five of the next seven come against teams ahead of them in the standings, and four will see them duke it out with teams inside the top-5 in points.

I mean, look at this schedule:

vs. Dallas
at Nashville
at Colorado
at Utah
at Vegas
at Dallas
vs. Winnipeg

That is a miserably difficult string of games; especially considering one of the best defensive defensemen in the league, Jonas Siegenthaler, will miss all of them.

It’s even harder given the ‘easy’ games aren’t as easy as they may appear on the surface.

Nashville has won as many times as Colorado, Minnesota, and Toronto over the last 12 while only Winnipeg and Florida have scored more goals.

Meanwhile, Utah has clearly outplayed teams at 5v5 in recent weeks, John Marino and Dylan Guenther just returned, and Logan Cooley should also be back for the matchup against New Jersey.

There are no easy points or wins looming. The Devils will have to earn everything that comes their way.

Timo Meier is long overdue