Jacob Markstrom made a splash in his first game for the New Jersey Devils, but can he keep it up all season? He shined in the NHL’s Global Series opener in Prague, where the Devils defeated the Buffalo Sabres 4-1. At 34, Markstrom blocked 30 of 31 shots and even pulled off an incredible stick save against Nicholas Aube-Kubel.
Coach Sheldon Keefe couldn’t stop praising Markstrom’s performance, calling him “great” and highlighting how important his addition was this offseason. General manager Tom Fitzgerald brought Markstrom over from Calgary in a trade for a future first-round pick and Kevin Bahl. Keefe remarked that goaltending is crucial, which is why Fitz made it a priority to bring Markstrom on board.
The Devils have struggled with consistency between the pipes since Cory Schneider’s days. Over five years, they tried out 13 different goalies , with only Vitek Vanecek and Mackenzie Blackwood managing to win over 20 games in a season.
Markstrom’s Proven Track Record:
In contrast, Markstrom has been reliable for seven straight seasons with at least 22 wins each time. During this period, he was among just six goalies with over 300 starts to maintain a .910 save percentage or better and keep goals-against average under 2.68. Fans might be wondering if his debut signals an end to New Jersey’s goalie troubles.
It’s just one game out of many more to come this season; still, his impressive start offers hope that brighter days are ahead for the Devils’ netminding situation.
Do you think Jacob will continue to impress?
