Devils' 2-1 Loss to Blue Jackets: Too Little, Too Late

The New Jersey Devils couldn't overcome a poor first 40 minutes in a brutal 2-1 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets

In what was the New Jersey Devils' most important game to date, they'd lay close to a complete egg against a Columbus Blue Jackets team that projects to end up in the draft lottery next spring. Here are three takeaways from the 2-1 loss, plus a quick look ahead to tonight's game against the Buffalo Sabres. 

Devils' Slow Starts Have Become Inexcusable

The Devils got off to an awful start in their 4-0 loss to the Detroit Red Wings on Wednesday evening. Erik Haula said the team had some difficult discussions before their practice on Thanksgiving Day. 

Haula said they weren't respecting the game and that they needed to get the arrogance out of their play (via Amanda Stein). Coach Lindy Ruff said something along those lines after the loss to the Red Wings, stating they had a complete lack of respect for the game. 

One would have thought the Devils would have come out and imposed their will on the Blue Jackets. But that was not what happened. Not even close. The Devils looked sluggish and slow from the very first shift of the game, which saw the Dawson Mercer line get hemmed in. 

The Blue Jackets controlled play in the first period, and there wasn't much debate about it. They owned 69.68 percent of the expected goals (xG%) in the first frame and came away with a 2-1 lead heading into the first intermission. 

Dougie Hamilton was at fault on both Blue Jackets goals. He drifted away from the center of the ice on Boone Jenner's tally, then got caught being too aggressive jumping into the play and letting Eric Robinson in on a breakaway. 

To be clear, the loss wasn't on Hamilton. The Devils did not play well as a team. It was not just the first period, either. They couldn't generate anything offensively at five-on-five in the second period. And by the time they got their legs going in the third, it was too little, too late. 

Sure, they played a great third period and had some poor puck luck with at least three posts in the final 20 minutes. But the first 40 minutes of that game were unacceptable. That can't happen in most contests, but it especially can't happen against the Blue Jackets 48 hours after a 4-0 loss against the Red Wings when they looked even worse. 

Ruff Deserves Blame Too