Devils’ Winning Road Trip Ends in 4–2 Loss to Kraken
Devils vs. Kraken January 25, 2026. Photo credits: Jenn G.
Written By Gina Anton
SEATTLE, WA — The New Jersey Devils’ impressive four-game Western Conference road trip came up just short Sunday afternoon as the Seattle Kraken rallied in the third period to claim a 4–2 victory at Climate Pledge Arena.
The Devils (27–23–2) had a chance to cap their Pacific Northwest swing with a sweep after wins in Calgary, Edmonton, and Vancouver. Instead, Seattle flipped the script in the final frame, scoring three unanswered goals to pull away and hand New Jersey its lone loss on the trip.
"Great start (to the road trip)," Devils defenseman Brenden Dillon said. "Absolutely, beyond frustrating way to finish, because we just beat ourselves. The game is right there, we talked about it in the second. Be content playing a 1-1 hockey game and two plays completely is our undoing."
New Jersey struck first, with veteran defenseman Dougie Hamilton opening the scoring 8:11 into the first period on the power play. Hamilton’s blast from the top of the circle found the back of the net, marking his sixth goal of the season and extending his point streak to eight games.
The Kraken responded in the second period when defenseman Ryker Evans tied the game with a long-range wrist shot that trickled through traffic and past Devils goalie Jacob Markström.
The decisive stretch came early in the third period. Just 18 seconds apart, Matty Beniers and Berkly Catton scored to put the Kraken ahead 3–1. Beniers, playing in his 300th NHL game, decked into the slot and lifted a backhand over Markström’s glove before Catton capitalized on a loose puck and tucked it in the open net.
Center Jack Hughes snapped a 15-game goal drought with a power-play tally at 8:14 of the third, cutting Seattle’s lead to one and injecting life into New Jersey’s comeback hopes.
However, Kraken captain Jordan Eberle sealed the victory with an empty-net goal late in the game, pushing the final margin to 4–2.
Seattle starter Joey Daccord made 27 saves, snapping a personal three-game losing skid and outperforming Markström. New Jersey’s netminder stopped 15 of 18 shots in his sixth start in the last seven games.
The Devils actually outshot the Kraken 29–19 overall and finished with a 3–1–0 record on the road trip despite the loss, but Seattle’s timely scoring ultimately proved the difference.
The Kraken (23–19–9) will stay home on Tuesday to host the Washington Capitals, while the Devils return to New Jersey for a Tuesday night matchup against the Winnipeg Jets as they transition back to Prudential Center ice.
