Airmont, New York (Issuewire.com) - LIVE! New Jersey Devils vs Detroit Red Wings Live Stream NHL Hockey Game On 12.04.2026
The Detroit Red Wings, desperate to claw back into the Eastern Conference wild-card conversation, welcomed a New Jersey Devils team looking to find their footing after a turbulent stretch of injuries and inconsistent form.
With both teams fighting for pride, points, and a chance to play beyond the next week, the Saturday afternoon clash delivered a masterclass in modern, high-speed hockey.
Pre-Game: The Post-Season Push
The Red Wings entered the game sitting just outside the playoff picture, trailing the Ottawa Senators by a razor-thin margin. After snapping a three-game skid with a high-scoring 6–3 victory over Philadelphia earlier in the week, Detroit arrived with renewed confidence. Captain Dylan Larkin—fresh off a four-point masterclass against the Flyers—was the clear focal point of the Red Wings' offensive engine.
In contrast, the New Jersey Devils were battling the "injury bug" at the worst possible time. Head coach Sheldon Keefe had announced just 24 hours prior that veteran goaltender Jacob Markstrom would miss the remainder of the season to rehab nagging injuries. With Jack Hughes and Luke Hughes both sidelined, the leadership burden fell squarely on the shoulders of Nico Hischier and Jesper Bratt.
First Period: Detroit’s Power Play Dominance
The Red Wings wasted no time feeding off the energy of the home crowd. Their transition game was crisp, catching the Devils' young defensive pairings out of position early. The breakthrough came at the seven-minute mark when New Jersey’s Dougie Hamilton was called for a tripping penalty.
Detroit’s power play, ranked in the league’s top ten, moved the puck with surgical precision. Patrick Kane—showing he still possesses the "magic" at 37—faked a shot from the circle before threading a pass to Alex DeBrincat, who hammered a one-timer past Jake Allen.
The Devils responded with several high-danger chances of their own, but Detroit’s Cam Talbot was a wall in the opening frame, turning away 12 shots, including a point-blank robbery of Timo Meier in the dying seconds of the period.
First Intermission: Detroit 1 – 0 New Jersey
Second Period: The Devils Strike Back
New Jersey emerged from the locker room with a noticeably higher intensity. Their forecheck, led by the relentless Nico Hischier, began to disrupt the Red Wings' breakout.
At 4:12 of the second, the Devils finally broke through. Jesper Bratt showed off his elite skating, carrying the puck around the back of the net before feeding a trailing Dawson Mercer. Mercer’s quick release beat Talbot over the glove side, knotting the game at 1–1.
The momentum continued to swing toward the visitors. New Jersey took the lead less than five minutes later when Nico Bjugstad capitalized on a defensive lapse by Detroit, tucking a rebound under the pads of a sprawling Talbot. However, the lead was short-lived. Detroit’s Moritz Seider silenced the small contingent of traveling Devils fans with a booming slapshot from the point that redirected off an Oilers defender and into the net.
Third Period: High-Stakes Hockey
The final period was a display of desperate, end-to-end hockey. With their playoff lives effectively on the line, the Red Wings pushed the pace. Dylan Larkin was a force of nature, logging nearly nine minutes of ice time in the final frame alone.
The turning point came with five minutes remaining. Following a goal-mouth scramble, James van Riemsdyk—who has been a "Devils killer" all season—found a loose puck and jammed it home to give Detroit a 3–2 lead.
New Jersey pulled Jake Allen for the extra attacker with two minutes left, launching a frantic assault. Timo Meier had the best chance to equalize, ringing a shot off the crossbar that sounded through the entire arena. Detroit survived the onslaught, with Lucas Raymond sealing the victory with an empty-net goal in the final seconds.
Final Score: Detroit Red Wings 4 – 2 New Jersey DevilsKey Performers
-
Dylan Larkin (Detroit): The captain didn't find the scoresheet but was the best player on the ice, winning 65% of his faceoffs and driving the play in all three zones.
-
Nico Hischier (New Jersey): In the absence of the Hughes brothers, Hischier was a titan, recording two assists and leading all forwards in ice time (23:14).
-
Cam Talbot (Detroit): Made 30 saves on 32 shots, including several crucial stops during the third-period power play.
-
Alex DeBrincat (Detroit): His opening power-play goal set the tone and marked his 41st of the season.
The Verdict
For the Detroit Red Wings, this was a "must-have" victory. The two points keep them within striking distance of the final wild-card spot as they head into a grueling season-ending road trip through Florida. The chemistry between their veterans like Kane and their young core like Seider was the difference-maker tonight.
For the New Jersey Devils, the loss is a bitter pill to swallow in what has been a "what could have been" season. Despite the injuries, the effort from the depth players was commendable, but the lack of elite finishing power without Jack Hughes was evident. They will look to finish the season on a high note tomorrow as they host the Ottawa Senators.
Game Statistics SummaryCategoryNew Jersey DevilsDetroit Red WingsGoals24Shots on Goal3229Power Play0/21/3Hits1821Blocks1215Export to Sheets
Media Contact
Livetv albe.rtlgrijalva97@gmail.com
