Devils Can't Overcome Slow Start in 3-0 Loss to Blues
The New Jersey Devils played well enough against the St. Louis Blues, but they couldn't overcome a slow first 15 minutes.
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We probably should have known last night would be rough when the St. Louis Blues scored nine seconds into the game. The New Jersey Devils did not play poorly, especially over the final two periods, but they couldn't overcome a slow start and find a way past Jordan Binnington in a 3-0 loss.
Despite the shutout, the Devils' fourth of the season, things are still looking up, as they're 10-4-0 in their last 14 games. Now, they'll look to regroup and exact some revenge on the Detroit Red Wings for an early-season loss.
Devils' First 15 Minutes Doomed Them
A lot happened in the first period of last night's game. First, Nico Hischier got tripped by Pavel Buchnevich, leading to the 2-on-1 that Robert Thomas scored on nine seconds into the game.
Soon afterward, the Devils got a penalty for too many men for a typical line change. There were not six men on the ice, so it was another missed call by the refs. The Devils killed off the infraction, but Dylan Holloway scored five seconds after the Blues' power play expired.
Just like that, the Devils were down 2-0.
The Devils soon fell behind 3-0 after Jacob Markström gave up a poor rebound. However, Jonas Siegenthaler had a chance to clear the puck off that rebound. He just shot it into Jake Neighbours, which Blues capitalized on to go up 3-0. It was just that kind of night.
Markström had a rough first period, allowing three goals on 0.66 expected goals. After the game, he admitted he should have stopped a couple of those goals, and head coach Sheldon Keefe said Markström wasn't good enough early on, just like the rest of the team.
Markström had a .920 save percentage across his last nine starts before yesterday, so I'm not concerned about him. He's been playing well. He had an off night, at least early on, just like the rest of the Devils.
But even though the Devils played a poor first period, I liked the rest of their game. Granted, the Blues Jose Mourinho parked the bus after going up 3-0, but the Devils got their chances. They finished with 32 shots on goal and 4.6 expected goals at all strengths. The finish wasn't there, but it's not like they played a poor game. They just played a poor first period, and it cost them.
Luke Hughes Is Due
The Devils didn't score when Luke Hughes was on the ice. In fact, they haven't been scoring at all in his five-on-five minutes, but the dam will eventually break if he keeps playing the way he is.
Hughes' defending was excellent again, but he was also creating a ton of offense. The Devils generated 1.73 expected goals and had a 34-6 shot attempt advantage when he was on the ice at five-on-five.
There were a couple of instances where Hughes used his elite skating and mobility to create open space and scoring chances in the offensive zone. But like the rest of his teammates, he didn't have an answer for Binnington.
One of the great mysteries of this season is how little the Devils are scoring when Hughes and Brett Pesce are on the ice. They have an on-ice shooting percentage of 2.34 percent when this pair is on the ice, an unsustainably low number.
For context's sake, the Devils are averaging 2.49 expected goals per 60 in Hughes' five-on-five minutes, but they're scoring just 0.66 actual goals per 60. There will be a flood of offense for Hughes eventually, especially if he keeps playing the way he has the last few games.
Another Shutout Highlights Need for More Scoring
The one concern I have about this Devils team is scoring, specifically at five-on-five. Outside of their big guns — Nico Hischier, Jesper Bratt, Jack Hughes and Timo Meier — the team needs another scorer or two for the stretch run.
The Devils have already gotten shut out four times this season after having four in all of 2023-24. Ondřej Palát is still a serviceable forward, but he should not be playing in the top six. Bratt and Hughes need another winger, and I imagine general manager Tom Fitzgerald feels the same way.
I'm not going into detail about who they should acquire because that content is coming to this Substack soon, but trading for a top-six winger should be the priority ahead of the trade deadline.
Even when looking down the lineup, some scoring depth in the bottom six could make this team a Cup contender if they acquire a top-six winger. Shane Bowers and Justin Dowling can hold their own, but they're not solutions. Curtis Lazar and Nathan Bastian should return from their injuries at some point, but the Devils could still use more bottom-six scoring.
The Devils' last 14 games show the need for scoring, too, because all four losses have been shutouts. It's a bit of feast or famine when it comes to putting the puck in the back of the net, and their power play is a significant reason why there hasn't been more famine than feast. That underscores the need for more five-on-five offense.
Quick Hits
Nolan Foote flubbed a grade-A chance from Hischier that could have made it an interesting game, but he was solid otherwise. The Devils had a 19-6 shot attempt advantage and 83.6 expected goals share (xG%) with him on the ice. He needs to shoot the puck more often, but he looked like a capable bottom-six forward.
Fortunately for the Devils, Meier only missed yesterday's game after serving a suspension for cross-checking Zachary L'Heureux in the 5-2 win over the Nashville Predators. He might not be scoring much, but the chances have been there. It also shows how the Devils' lineup lacks scoring pop when he's out, further highlighting the need for more offense.
Of course, Johnathan Kovacevic had his worst game of the season the day I wrote about how great he's been to start 2024-25. He and Jonas Siegenthaler finished in the bottom two among Devils skaters in Game Score; Siegenthaler was on the ice for all three goals against, while Kovacevic was on the ice for two. Let's call it a blip on the radar.
Game Score Chart
Advanced stats from Natural Stat Trick