Devils Goaltending Costs Them in 5-3 Loss to Flames
Vitek Vaněček's tough outing was a significant factor in the New Jersey Devils dropping a crucial game to the Calgary Flames
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The New Jersey Devils can't seem to ever build off an important win. Not like with the goaltending they got from Vitek Vaněček yesterday. The Devils played well enough to win, but a disastrous performance from their netminder cost them a crucial two points. Here are three takeaways from the 5-3 loss to the Calgary Flames.
Vaněček Is Unplayable
Let's not step over why the Devils lost yesterday's game. It's because Vaněček put up one of his worst games of the season. By the numbers, it wasn't awful; he gave up just one goal above expected. But watching the game, it was easy to see pretty much every goal he gave up was terrible.
After taking a 1-0 lead off an Ondřej Palát goal, Vaněček gave up a clunker to Mikael Backlund to tie the game at 1-1. Vaněček was too slow to read where the puck was, and Backlund picked up on it, realizing he could bank the puck off the Devils’ netminder and in the net.
Unfortunately, it only got worse. The second goal Vaněček gave up was perhaps the worst he's allowed this season. He thought he had secured the puck on a relatively harmless shot, but it trickled through him. Connor Zary took a couple of strides, saw the puck was loose and put it in the net.
Vaněček had zero awareness of where the puck was, and you could feel the air come out of the arena after that goal, even watching it on TV. You saw it in the Devils' play afterward, too. After dominating the first period, you could tell two bad goals by Vaněček sucked the life out of the Devils.
The Flames put the pressure on and had the run of play until the third period began. But Vaněček gave up another terrible goal. I'm not sure what he was doing, but he got outmuscled by Kevin Rooney and also failed to keep his five-hole closed. That puck had no business finding the back of the net, and it again seemed like he had no idea where the puck was.
The Devils got themselves back in it after a great play by Nico Hischier to score a shorthanded goal to make it 3-2, but Vaněček gave the momentum back after the Flames scored to make it 4-2. It was another tally that had no business finding the back of the net.
Ruff said after the game that giving up a tough goal or two is deflating. It's human nature. And he's right about that. When your goaltending continuously gives up back-breaking goals, it will affect the team in front of him. I thought that much was clear after the Flames took a 2-1 lead.
The Devils cannot continue to trot out Vaněček any longer. They are doing a disservice to the team. Jack Campbell struggled early in the season, but the Edmonton Oilers waived him and sent him to the AHL, where he still is. The Toronto Maple Leafs waived Ilya Samsonov, too.
The Devils need to make a trade for a goalie, but they should consider recalling Akira Schmid. Even though Schmid has struggled in the AHL, the team might be better off with a Schmid and Daws tandem until they acquire a goalie through a trade. But continuing to play Vaněček cannot go on. He is unplayable.
Devils Played Well Enough to Win
Even though the Devils lost, I thought they played a pretty solid game. They had plenty of jump in the first period and were the better team. Had it not been for Jacob Markström, the Devils would’ve likely had a lead heading into the first intermission
As mentioned, the Flames' first two goals were backbreakers and took some life out of the Devils. But to their credit, they didn't fold. They fought back and brought it within one goal twice in the third period, but poor goaltending did them in.
The Devils finished the game with an expected goals share of 51.38 percent. The deserve-to-win meter on Money Puck had the Devils winning 60.6 percent of the time in 1,000 simulations. They were the better team, but it has to be incredibly frustrating to lose a game where they played well enough to win.
Was it a perfect contest? No. There were some defensive miscues, like Kevin Bahl being well out of position on the Flames' fourth goal. What he was doing, I have no idea. And I think there's a serious argument that Santeri Hatakka should play over him once the team is healthy.
But even with gaffes like Bahl's, the Devils are still playing well enough to win games. If they can figure out a goaltending solution soon (and I mean in the next 72 hours), they might still have a chance at the playoffs, but time is slipping away.
Meier Continues to Struggle
I'm not sure what’s the issue with Timo Meier. I think injuries are part of the reason, but he had an awful game against the Flames. The most concerning part of his play is his one-on-one defense. It is legitimately horrific and part of why he's struggling.
For example, there was an instance where Meier could have blocked a Flames point shot early in the game, but there was just zero effort from him. Calgary didn't score, but Meier was lazy on that play, and has to be better.
It's not just Meier's defensive game, though. There was an instance where he did well to gain the zone and get into the slot. But instead of shooting the puck, he passed it out wide to Erik Haula. Had Meier shot the puck, he would have at least gotten a grade-A chance on Markström. Instead, nothing came of it.
I know Meier played primarily right wing with the San Jose Sharks. I'm unsure how much that has factored into his struggles with the Devils this season. But you have to do whatever you need to get him going over the final 33 games of the season.
There's absolutely no harm in trying Meier on the right wing. It could be a psychological thing at this point. And if that's where he's had the most success in his career, it doesn't hurt to try him on his off-side, even if positions don't matter too much for wingers in the Devils' system.
Quick Hits
I mentioned Bahl's play on the Flames' fourth goal, but he had a poor game overall. There was one play in the second period where he iced the puck for seemingly no reason. There was no pressure on him, but he flung the puck high and with pace. Perhaps he thought someone was in the neutral zone, but the pass wasn't remotely near a Devils skater. He finished the night with a 33 xG%, third worst on the team. He's slowly playing himself out of a regular spot in the lineup.
Last night was the first game for the Tyler Toffoli, Jack Hughes and Alex Holtz line. I thought they played well, creating grade-A chances and sustaining offensive zone time. Toffoli and Holtz were first and second in xG%. As a line, they finished with a 56.94 xG%. Hopefully, Ruff sticks with them.
Game Score Chart
Advanced stats from Natural Stat Trick
With regards to where Meier plays positionally, I've read that he prefers to play on the left side. I wonder if that's why Ruff is playing him there.