Who should be the Devils’ Game 1 playoff starting goalie?

With just two games to go in the 2024-25 NHL regular season, the New Jersey Devils already know who they will be facing in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs: the Carolina Hurricanes. Lots of questions surround the two teams as we prepare for Game 1, but one lingering question is who the Devils should start in goal.

The Devils acquired Jacob Markstrom from the Calgary Flames last June, and while he was expected to be the clear cut No. 1 goalie, it’s been the 34-year-old Jake Allen who has been more consistent. Allen has a 12-16-1 record but has posted a .911 save percentage (SV%), while Markstrom has a 26-16-6 mark with a .900 SV%.

On Tuesday’s episode of Daily Faceoff LIVE, Frank Seravalli and Tyler Yaremchuk are joined by former NHL goaltender Devan Dubnyk to discuss the Devils’ goaltending situation and who New Jersey should start in Game 1 against the Hurricanes.

Tyler Yaremchuk: Let’s start in the East with the New Jersey Devils, where I think a lot of people will be raising an eyebrow at the eye of the Devils having a goalie decision to make, but when you look at the numbers, Jake Allen has outperformed Jacob Markstrom for quite some time this season.

How do the Devils balance out the hot hand and the guy they paid a lot to bring in?

Devan Dubnyk: It’s a difficult situation because you have a guy in Allen who is a veteran, so he’s not a rookie who you’re concerned about. He’s been there, he’s been in the playoffs, so that experience is there.

I still think you have to go with Markstrom, but with a short leash. You paid this guy, and his ceiling is higher. It just is what it is. This is why you paid him. We all know that if you want to win a Stanley Cup, you hvve to have phenomenal goaltending, and I think the ceiling for Markstrom is higher than Allen’s.

In this situation, it’s a lot closer. If they do go with Markstrom, I think the leash has got to be extremely short. Give him a go, but if he struggles at all, you can’t wait.