The New Jersey Devils crashed out of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoff race on April 7, and head coach Sheldon Keefe did not hide his frustration.
A heavy 5–1 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers sealed their fate, while the Ottawa Senators picked up a crucial point elsewhere. Keefe called the outcome ’embarrassing,’ admitting it marked the first time in two decades he would miss the playoffs entirely.
“It’s difficult, it’s embarrassing, I don’t like it,” Keefe said, via reporter Amanda Stein. “I’ve coached for 20 years,this is the 1st time I won’t be participating in the playoffs at any level. It’s not fun (…) But we’ve earned this. It is what it is.”