NEWARK, N.J. – The Devils knew before the puck dropped that special teams could very well decide their matchup with the Utah Mammoth.

Unfortunately for New Jersey, that proved true.

The Devils handed a 5-3 loss from the Mammoth.

But it wasn’t the only difference in a game where the Devils continually found ways to stay within striking distance, only to come up just short.

New Jersey had its opportunities throughout the night, including four chances on the power play, but Utah was able to make more of its own. The Mammoth went 2-for-4 with the man advantage, while the Devils finished 1-for-5.

“We knew coming in that their PP is lethal,” Jake Allen, who faced 31 shots against, said. “They showed us tonight, obviously, for myself, not a good job, but they’re the best power play in the league right now. And a lot of chemistry, and they made us pay. And then, obviously, we were just chasing after that a little bit.”

Luke Evangelista scored twice and Jesper Boqvist added his first goal of the season for the Devils.

“We knew what their game plan was,” Evangelista said. “Obviously, they’re a great rush team. They play with a ton of skill, a ton of speed, especially through the neutral zone, and obviously their power play is pretty lethal. They get one early there on the power play, kind of stings a little bit. We knew their game plan. They just executed it better, it was unfortunate we didn’t get the result we wanted tonight.”

Clayton Keller and Nick Schmaltz converted on Utah’s power play, while MacKenzie Weegar,  Schmaltz and Vincent Trochek scored at even strength.

The Devils also spent too much of the night playing from behind. Each time New Jersey found a way to close the gap, Utah forced them back into chase mode.

“At times we executed our structure well, and at times we didn’t,” Evangelista added. “I think, obviously we wanted to get pucks in behind, start that ozone hound mentality, forecheck, and just play down there, put pressure on our D. I thought at times we did, and at times we kind of got a little bit loose with the puck. [thud] But when we did, I mean, it resulted in goals, ozone time, chances, all that stuff. So, the recipe’s there.”