Jake Allen Slated to Start Thursday for Devils, Reflecting Career of Stability and Backup Roles

Jake Allen is expected to start on the road against Florida on Thursday, November 19, 2025, for the New Jersey Devils. At 34, he aims to return to the postseason, having previously won a Cup with St. Louis. After arriving in Jersey in 2023-24, he provided stability despite not excelling, and this season he will back up Jacob Markstrom, potentially improving his ratios. His career has seen him as a presumptive No. 1 with the Canadiens in 2022-23 before injuries and poor play (15-24-3, 3.55 GAA, .891 SV% in 42 games) led to Sam Montembeault displacing him. He also faced a heavy workload in 2021-22 (9-20-4, 3.30 GAA, .905 SV% in 35 games) due to Carey Price's injury. With St. Louis, Allen performed well as Jordan Binnington's backup in 2019-20 (12-6-3, 2.15 GAA, .927 SV%) and was once the team's primary starter, leading them to the conference final in 2016.