500 games – that’s quite an accomplishment in The NHL – especially for goaltenders and even more so in an era where they rarely make 60 or more starts per season. In fact, before October 10, 2026, only 85 goalies in the 109-year history of The League had reached that plateau. 

Saturday afternoon at Prudential Center, the New Jersey Devils hosted the Vancouver Canucks in a game that saw Jake Allen become the 86th goalie to join the 500-game club. The final score, a 4-1 Devils victory, saw Allen stop 20 of the 21 shots he faced. 

“I can give you a laundry list,” Allen said when asked how he feels he’s changed from his first game until now. “But I think I’m way more relaxed, way more composed and I just trust myself in my game. I think, when you’re young, you’re just chomping at the bit so hard, you want it so bad and sometimes that is your hindrance.”

Opposite Allen was Leevi Merilainen. In his 38th career game, Merilainen stopped 31 of the 34 shots he faced and Kevin Lankinen turned aside two out of three shots he faced during his brief cameo.

In addition to the goaltending, New Jersey’s offense was fueled by its first three-power-play-goal game since March 7 of last season (vs. the Rangers). Nico Hischier tallied two of the power-play markers and Jesper Bratt scored the other one. Hischier, Bratt and Jack Hughes each finished the game with multiple power-play points. 

“I just think about his path, his road, not the easiest, most traditional way,” Devils Head Coach Sheldon Keefe told Team Digital Reporter Amanda Stein before the game about Allen. “He’s done a little bit of everything in terms of being a ‘No.1’ guy, being a backup, being a mentor. Here he’s been all of that at different times. He’s the ultimate pro, a tremendous leader and competitor. He takes every single day as serious in detail and structure as his first day, which is pretty remarkable.”

The Devils are the third team Allen has played for during his 14-year career (along with the St. Louis Blues and Montreal Canadiens). So, it is no wonder that many of his teammates, past and present, have some thoughts on his milestone. 

“He’s proven a lot of people right,” current Canuck and Allen’s former Canadiens teammate Brendan Gallagher told Stein. “But a lot of people wrong as well who have doubted him. Very happy for Jakey.”

Allen’s milestone afternoon didn’t get off to a hot start as Anthony Mantha was called for hooking Linus Karlsson 4:32 into the first period. On Vancouver’s ensuing power-play, Brock Boeser found Karlsson in the right face-off circle and the latter whizzed his shot past Allen for a 1-0 Vancouver lead. 

Before that goal, Allen had a career .907 SV% on the penalty-kill, having allowed 30 goals on 321 shots. Karlsson’s was the 31st power-play goal Allen has given up. 

New Jersey got its goal back less than three minutes later. Jonathan Lekkerimäki was called for high-sticking Brett Pesce and on the power-play, Arseny Gritsyuk fed Nico Hischier in the slot. New Jersey’s Captain wired the puck past Merilainen for a power-play goal of his own, tying the game 1-1. 

It was Hischier’s 52nd career power-play goal, passing Zach Parise for seventh in Devils’ history. (Stats courtesy of MSG Networks stats man, Nick Cahill). In keeping with the milestone theme, the goal was also the 200th of Hischier’s career. 

“Obviously, makes me proud a bit, for sure,” Hischier said when asked how he felt about reaching the 200-goal milestone. “That’s something nobody’s gonna take away from me. But, hopefully, there are a couple more coming. I’m not done. I still wanna get better and for me, (I) wanna take this team somewhere.”

Then, with 3:36 left in the opening period, Amadeus Lombardi drove to the net. His shot was turned aside by Kevin Lankinen, who briefly entered the game while Merilainen dealt with an equipment issue. Jesper Boqvist then swooped in and cleaned up the rebound to give the Devils a 2-1 lead. Since Lombardi picked up the assist, he officially registered his first career NHL point.

The Garden Staters kept the momentum going early in the second period. Boeser was called for hooking Jack Hughes at 3:17. New Jersey’s power-play remained hot with its second power-play goal of the game as Jesper Bratt scored with a sharp-angle shot, giving the Devils a 3-1 lead. 

Meanwhile, after giving up a goal on the third shot he faced, Allen was strong, stayed composed and didn’t allow another goal the rest of the way. That included a beautiful kick save midway through the period that showed off his athleticism. 

“I see it a lot still in today’s game,” Allen said about how much he’s changed. “That’s something that you just mature with and realize who you are and what’s important; what you need and what you don’t need. I think that’s the biggest change from day one to now. I think I really am comfortable (with) who I am and what I can do. I’m confident in myself. I think, back then, there was definitely some doubts, but I think that inner belief there.”

Then, with 1:53 left in the middle period, Drew O’Connor was called for tripping Luke Hughes, sending the Devils to their third power-play of the game. With ten seconds left in the period, Jack Hughes sent a no-look, cross-crease pass to Hischier, who buried his second power-play goal of the game to give the Devils a 4-1 lead.

“The biggest growth I would say is, he’s always been a good player; it’s just his leadership and the urgency of it,” Keefe said about Hischier’s growth since he became the team’s Head Coach. “I think he recognizes time’s; everything’s adding up. 

“Time’s going fast on him and he doesn’t want to waste these years or waste these opportunities here in Jersey, with these teams and leading our group. I’ve seen more urgency in his leadership and how he’s pushed the team. So that’s obviously very important for the Captain.”

On the following face-off, Evan Rodrigues was initially called for spearing Marco Rossi in the head and neck area. A review changed the major penalty to a double-minor for high-sticking and put the Garden Staters on the penalty-kill for the second time in the game. 

New Jersey managed to kill off the penalty, partially due to Boeser being called for hooking Timo Meier just after the first half of the double-minor expired. In total, New Jersey was successful on two of its three penalty-kills during the game, bringing their season total to 7-for-11. And thanks to their suddenly surging power-play, the Devils are now 4-for-18 on the season. 

“I think Jake is a guy that knows a lot,” Hischier said about Allen’s milestone. “Very smart guy. Seen a lot, knows a lot, has been through a lot and he can just help us. I’m a guy that’s leaned on him a lot of times too. Just great to have a guy like that in the locker room and super pro in here. Comes in, works his a** off every day and as a younger, you see that and you know that’s what it takes.”