Devils' 4-2 Loss to Hurricanes: Offense Stifled

The New Jersey Devils couldn't break through a smothering Carolina Hurricanes defense that clogged up the neutral zone.

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The Carolina Hurricanes have been the New Jersey Devils' boogeyman this season. That's not a surprise considering how the two clubs' seasons are going, but teams like the Hurricanes show how the Devils need to diversify their game a bit. Here are three takeaways from the 4-2 loss. 

Devils Offense Smothered Again

The last time these two teams met, the Devils lost 1-0 in overtime. They played well that game, specifically defensively, but trying to generate offense in that contest was a chore. The Hurricanes clogged up the neutral zone and didn't allow the Devils to attack off the rush like they wanted to. 

We also saw that in the two games against the Los Angeles Kings. There was no room for the Devils to do what they wanted in the neutral zone. The difference between those three games and yesterday's is that Travis Green was the head coach instead of Lindy Ruff. 

This is one of the more difficult tasks Green has in the short amount of time he has as the interim coach. Can he help the Devils diversify their offense to help them find other ways to score other than just off the rush? 

Credit to the Hurricanes, who have always played well-structured under coach Rod Brind'Amour, but the Devils can't try to rush the puck up the ice and gain the offensive zone cleanly every time against teams like them and the Kings, who clog up the neutral zone. 

I know Jack Hughes has never seen a zone entry he doesn't like, but sometimes, against a team like the Hurricanes, you have to chip the puck in and chase. I still think his not being 100% is a factor; he still seems hesitant to take contact. But still, it's not just Jack. 

This wasn't just a problem at five-on-five, either. Every time the Devils got a power play, they tried to attack the Hurricanes by rushing the puck into the offensive zone. But the Hurricanes either denied the zone entry or made it very difficult for the Devils to gain the offensive zone with possession.