Though he lost his final game in the calendar year of 2024, New Jersey Devils goaltender Jacob Markstrom was named the third star for the month of December by the NHL.
The New Jersey Devils needed a goaltender after last season, which was part of the reason they could not build on their playoff appearance from the 2022-23 season. Markstrom had been a target for the Devils since last November. Thus, Tom Fitzgerald struck in the offseason, completing the trade with the Calgary Flames at the March 2024 trade deadline. He has clearly made a difference for the club, and the players have more confidence in him between the pipes.
Jacob Markstrom Continues To Raise His Level of Play for the Devils
Having a number-one goalie has allowed the Devils to sit second in the Metro with a record of 24-13-3 and 51 points, one point behind the surprising Washington Capitals. Jacob Markstrom has been everything and more for the Devils this season. Having a guy like Markstrom, who can win games when he sees 20 or fewer shots or 20 more shots, is valuable to a young Devils team.
There were some who thought Markstrom was not the right decision for the Devils in the summer. Even early on in the season, some believed that he wasn’t the number one goalie for the Devils. Those same people believed it was Jake Allen. However, Markstrom is silencing his doubters, especially after that 39-save performance against the New York Rangers at the beginning of December.
In December, Markstrom had a record of 8-1-1, a 1.30 goals-against average, a .937 save percentage, and two shutouts in 10 games. This allowed the Devils to go 8-4-1 in December. Markstrom only gave up two or fewer goals in every game except his final one. His play was highlighted by back-to-back shutouts against the Pittsburgh Penguins and Rangers.
Jacob Markstrom Proves Why He Was The Perfect Fit for the Devils
This included a shutout streak of 139:35 from Dec. 17-27, the second-longest of his NHL career. Markstrom’s longest streak was 144:46 from Oct. 25 – Nov. 2, 2021, when he was with the Calgary Flames. This season with the Devils, the 34-year-old has a record of 19-7-2, a 2.15 goals-against average, a .912 save percentage, and three shutouts in 28 total game appearances.
Markstrom currently ranks second in the NHL in wins, second in goals-against average (minimum: 13 GP) and tied for second in shutouts. There is a reason why Sweden selected him as one of their three goaltenders for the Four Nations Faceoff.
Jacob Markstrom is always looking to get better. He wants to perform at a high level each night. And Fitzgerald knows that Markstrom gives his team a chance to win every night.
When the team needs a big or timely save, Markstrom is there. That is all you hear on the broadcast or in the press box. Not to mention, he has probably the save of the year in Game 1 against the Buffalo Sabres. Look for Markstrom to continue his stellar play as the defacto second of the season gets underway.
