Devils’ New 3rd Line Shines in 5-3 Win vs. Capitals
The new third line of Paul Cotter, Erik Haula and Stefan Noesen powered the New Jersey Devils to a rebound win vs. the Washington Capitals.
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One of the fun parts of the beginning of the NHL season is you never know who will make a name for themselves. It could be an individual performance or a newly formed line combo that comes out of nowhere.
It was the latter for the New Jersey Devils against the Washington Capitals, as the new third line of Paul Cotter, Erik Haula and Stefan Noesen had themselves a night. They helped power a 5-3 win against a Capitals team that's been a nightmare for the Devils for quite some time.
Cotter, Haula & Noesen Lead the Way
Devils head coach Sheldon Keefe is giving his line combos and pairings plenty of runway to build chemistry to start 2024-25. He's made minimal changes, and most of the combos and pairings he's used date back to the beginning of the preseason.
Even last night, the lone change was swapping Ondřej Palát with Cotter on a line with Haula and Noesen. That move paid massive dividends, as they had a significant influence on the final result.
Haula and Noesen each finished with three assists, while Cotter scored twice. Their offensive production was not flukey, either. Even before Cotter scored to make it a 2-1 game late in the first, this trio generated plenty of quality chances.
Noesen had set up Haula with a grade-A chance via a great play from behind the net, but Capitals goaltender Charlie Lindgren made a solid save. You could tell it was coming for them, though, and it paid off with Cotter's goal a few minutes after that chance for Haula.
Cotter's first goal was a thing of beauty. Haula and Noesen set him up with some excellent quick passing that led to a wide-open net and tap-in. Cotter's second goal was also a beaut, as Noesen made a smooth cross-ice pass on his backhand to set up Cotter for a one-timer.
Noesen had a particularly great game, as he was a menace behind the net and on the forecheck. His prettiest assist — all of them were primary helpers — came on another fantastic play behind the net to set up Tomáš Tatar in a high-danger area.
What's fun about this line is you wouldn't necessarily associate them with skill, other than Cotter, but they can score. All three players have 30-40-point potential, which is what you want from a third line.
I'm also not surprised Cotter made a difference on this unit. A Palát, Haula and Noesen line seems fine on paper, but there isn't much speed or pace between them. That can be a problem, especially in transition. There isn't someone who can carry the puck through the neutral zone.
Cotter isn't a play driver, per se, but he skates well and has shown he can carry the puck in transition. He seems like an ideal fit with Haula and Noesen, so I can see this line working out in the long run.
Devils' Top 6 Has Yet to Get Going
The Devils' bottom six carried the way at five-on-five last night, but the same can't be said for the top six. The Tatar, Nico Hischier and Dawson Mercer line finished with an expected goals share (xG%) below 30 percent, while Timo Meier, Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt totaled a 46.9 xG%.
It was a particularly tough game for Hughes, who was bobbling pucks or forcing low-percentage passes. The shot and chance creation wasn't there, either, but I'm not concerned about him long-term for a couple of reasons.
One) I'm not surprised he's starting slow after having shoulder surgery this offseason. Two) He only played in one preseason game, so it might take him some time to get up to speed with Keefe's system, etc.
However, I'm not against Keefe making changes to the top six. The Hughes line played well in the second game of The Global Series, but that seems like less and less of a fit as time goes on.
Likewise, the Tatar, Hischier and Mercer line has not looked great, either. The easy switch would be flipping Meier and Mercer on the top two lines since Meier and Hughes have never really gelled, while Meier has always played well with Hischier.
Plus, getting Hughes going after a rough few games would go a long way, and I think a Bratt, Hughes and Mercer line is more likely to do that than what Keefe has together now.
Devils Locked It Down in the 3rd Period
One thing I really liked about the Devils' performance last night was how they defended in the third period, particularly the last five or six minutes. The Devils didn't generate a high-danger chance in the third (more reason to make changes to the top six, in my opinion), but they also didn't allow one.
The Devils suffocated the Capitals in the last five to six minutes, and maybe most importantly, they played smart hockey. Their puck management was excellent, they were chipping the puck out of the defensive zone when they had the chance, and they neutralized anything the Capitals tried to do in the neutral zone.
Washington did get some chances at 6-on-5, but the Devils mostly did well to keep them to the perimeter. Perhaps it's just a PTSD thing from previous seasons, but that felt like a different defensive performance from the Devils in the third period.
Generally, I'd prefer if they try and attack in the final 20, especially if they're only up by a goal. But sometimes, you have to win a game the hard way by grinding it out and playing sound defense.
They did that last night, and Keefe was mostly playing four/five defensemen in the third, with Seamus Casey riding the bench other than for some ice time on the power play and Šimon Nemec getting limited minutes.
That's an impressive defensive performance, considering the circumstances. And that should be something to build on, especially once Luke Hughes and Brett Pesce return to the lineup.
Quick Hits
The Devils started a bit slow, and the Capitals took advantage on the power play to go up 1-0 in the first. That's why Casey's game-tying goal was a big momentum swing. His 48.2 xG% was the best he's posted in the team's four games this season, and even though Keefe is keeping his ice time limited, he still looks better than Nemec.
Speaking of Nemec, he is not playing well; his 30.39 xG% was the third worst among Devils skaters last night. There was one play in the second period where he made a terrible pinch in the neutral zone. Jacob Markström bailed him out by making the save on Connor McMichael on a 2-on-1, but Nemec put his inexperienced defense partner in a precarious spot. He can't be making plays like that, or he will lose his place in the starting six once Hughes and Pesce return.
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