Devils Have Golden Opportunity to End 4-Game Win Streak Drought

The New Jersey Devils' schedule couldn't present them with a better chance to break their 4-game win streak drought

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The New Jersey Devils haven't had a winning streak of more than three games in a long time. Two years, to be precise. The law of averages suggests they're due, especially if they are the improved team they seem to be. And this may be the week to break the drought.

A 3-0 shutout win against the Edmonton Oilers was a good way to start the week, and when looking at the remaining schedule, the Devils have a golden opportunity to pull off a winning streak of more than three games.

Montreal Canadiens

I don't think anyone expected the Montreal Canadiens to be a good team this season, but I'm not sure anyone expected them to be as bad as they've looked.  

The Canadiens come into tonight's game with a 4-7-2 record and one of the worst defensive units in the NHL. To be fair, it's a young and inexperienced group, but their blue line has struggled mightily to begin 2024-25.

Montreal is giving up 3.66 expected goals per 60 minutes at five-on-five, the worst in the NHL, and it's not particularly close. The Anaheim Ducks are giving up 3.41 expected goals per 60, the second-worst rate in the league. That's how bad the Canadiens' defense has been.

There hasn't been a particularly redeeming defense pair for the Canadiens, either. Their top pair of Mike Matheson and Kaiden Guhle has an expected goals share (xG%) of 40.63 percent and has allowed 3.41 expected goals per 60.

It doesn't get much better after that, too. Lane Hutson may turn into a great defenseman one day, but the Canadiens are getting crushed in his five-on-five minutes; he has a 38.75 xG%.

The Devils' offense has been somewhat shaky the last couple of games, but there's no excuse for not showing up tonight. The Canadiens are the worst defensive team in the NHL by a mile, and even though the Devils are returning from their Western Canada trip, this is a game where they have to secure two points.

These are the games they lost too much of last season. If they want to be taken seriously in the Metro, they have to win in a relatively convincing fashion.