Devils Avert Disaster in 5-3 Win vs. Avalanche

Despite blowing a 3-1 third-period lead, the New Jersey Devils stuck with it and came up with an important win vs. the Avalanche

Follow us on Twitter: @AlexC_NJD, @NJD_OnTheRush

---

The New Jersey Devils have a way of making things stressful. Last night could've been another all-too-familiar loss, but instead, they avoided a total third-period collapse and rallied for a crucial 5-3 win over the Colorado Avalanche. Here are three takeaways from the victory. 

Shorthanded Devils Played a Solid Game 

It wasn't a pretty third period for the Devils. They got outshot 17-4 at all strengths and lost the expected goals battle at five-on-five, with the Avalanche controlling 81.86 percent of the expected goals (xG%). They also played a 4-on-4 situation about as poorly as they have all season, which is how the Avalanche tied the game. 

But even with the bad third period, I thought the Devils played a pretty solid game, specifically at five-on-five. The first few shifts showed some rust, which wasn't surprising since the Devils had ten days off and the Avalanche had just played the night before. 

The Devils did give up the first goal for the 35th time in 48 games, but they got it back almost immediately via a redirect from Chris Tierney. That was a mini-momentum changer, and the Devils soon found their legs after getting outshot 11-2 to start the game. 

By the time the first period ended, the Devils had generated 1.03 expected goals and were even in scoring and high-danger chances with the Avalanche. It carried over into the second, where they took control of the game. 

Colorado has been one of the best second-period teams, at least scoring-wise, this season. They entered yesterday's contest with 66 second-period goals, the most in the NHL. 

Perhaps being on the second half of a back-to-back helped the Devils, but they were the better team in the middle frame. They outscored the Avalanche 2-0 in the second period and had an xG% just below 70 percent. That was a positive, as second periods had been a problem for the Devils heading into the break. 

Sure, the third period was less than ideal, especially since the Avalanche were in the second half of a back-to-back. But there was more to like about the Devils' game than there wasn't. With Jack Hughes' return looming, hopefully it's the start of positive momentum. 

Hughes & Marino Helped Shut Down MacKinnon