Devils’ 3-2 Win vs. Oilers: It Doesn’t Always Have To Be Pretty
It wasn't the prettiest game, but the New Jersey Devils extended their winning streak to 3 with a hard-fought win against the Oilers.
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No Jack Hughes, no Dougie Hamilton, and no Jonas Siegenthaler, but that's been no problem for the New Jersey Devils this week. Against all odds, they've put together a three-game winning streak at the right time after defeating the Edmonton Oilers 3-2 last night.
It wasn't the prettiest win, but it doesn't matter this late into the season. Secure the two points however you can, and the Devils found a way to get two more points to expand their lead in the Metropolitan Division after the Columbus Blue Jackets lost 4-0 to the Vegas Golden Knights.
Allen's Continued Excellence
The Devils will have to rely on their goaltending down the stretch since they're missing two top offensive threats in Hughes and Hamilton. That shouldn't be a problem, whether it's Jake Allen or Jacob Markström.
Last night, head coach Sheldon Keefe turned to Allen, who has been excellent all season, and it proved to be the right decision. The Devils did not need to lean on Allen for much of the first two periods. It was a tight-checking game, and they did well to contain the Oilers' stars.
That changed in the third period, though, with the Oilers rolling over the Devils. They generated a whopping 2.1 expected goals at five-on-five and tested Allen multiple times, but he held down the fort and allowed just one goal to Evan Bouchard.
In the third period alone, the Oilers had eight high-danger chances at five-on-five after having just six combined over the first two periods. They had plenty of quality chances, but Allen did his part.
Allen made 31 saves on 33 shots while stopping 1.86 goals above expected for the game. Perhaps he drops off at some point, but he's been doing this all season, so I wouldn't expect it with only 15 games remaining in the regular season.
Keefe Flipped the Script in the 3rd
I really liked the Devils' game across the first two periods. It may not be fun or exciting, but they have to play a low-event, defensive game with three of their top players out with injuries, especially against a team like the Oilers.
Unfortunately, it did unravel a bit in the third. But to the Devils' credit, they found a way to scrape out two points in a situation they haven't been able to do enough of this season.
Yes, Mrs. Fields winning the cookie race AGAIN may have some mystical powers, but Keefe deserves credit for flipping the script in the third. I tweeted it after Bouchard scored to give the Oilers a 2-1 lead about five minutes into the third, but the Timo Meier, Nico Hischier and Stefan Noesen line was getting picked apart by Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.
Keefe seemed to recognize that and reunited Meier, Hischier and Jesper Bratt, and it powered the Devils to the comeback. That line sustained some offensive zone time on one of their first shifts together, and Bratt eventually got a shot through traffic and Stuart Skinner to tie the game at 2-2.
Later in the period, Meier, Hischier and Bratt kept possession in the offensive zone, and Bratt eventually fed Šimon Nemec for a one-timer from the point to give the Devils a 3-2 lead, which proved to be the game-winner.
I don't think I'd return to this trio to begin tomorrow's game against the Pittsburgh Penguins since they have struggled this season, though it has come in a small sample. But Keefe flipped the right switch at the right time, and it helped the Devils come away with two points.
Nemec's Redemption
Speaking of Nemec, that was a complete 180 from his performance against the Winnipeg Jets a week ago. Not to relive it, but he was responsible for all three goals the Jets scored in the third in the Devils' 6-1 loss.
Keefe kept Nemec heavily sheltered last night, playing him just 8:58 at five-on-five; only Curtis Lazar logged less five-on-five ice time. Still, Nemec made the most of it. He won the game, but was also second among Devils skaters with an expected goals share (xG%) of 77.07 percent.
Though Nemec's ice time was limited, there were no glaring defensive mistakes, and he even won some one-on-one battles that he didn't in the Jets game. Everyone needs to step up with Siegenthaler and Hamilton out for the regular season, and perhaps that will give Nemec some confidence moving forward.
Quick Hits
Cody Glass didn't find the scoresheet, but he had another solid outing. He nearly iced the game late in the third when he forced a turnover in the neutral zone, then started an odd-man rush the other way. He didn't score, but he came close. Only six Devils skaters finished with an xG% above 50 percent, and he was one of them. Scoring chances were 11-4 with Glass on the ice, while high-danger chances were 4-1. It's tough to deny his impact so far.
Luke Hughes had a bit of a rough game. His turnover led to Draisaitl's goal that tied it at 1-1, and he was having trouble breaking the puck out of the defensive zone. I can't say I blame him, as Keefe had him and Brett Pesce matched against Draisaitl, McDavid and Zach Hyman. It was a tall task, but fortunately, he shouldn't have too many more nightmare matchups like that the rest of the season since the Devils' schedule is pretty favorable.
It's been a rough season for Erik Haula, to put it mildly, but he deserves his flowers for his play this week. He got the primary assist on Pesce's goal by parking himself in front of Skinner and helping cause havoc. That led to Pesce picking up the loose puck and scoring. Haula finished with an xG% of 72.04 percent, with scoring chances being 12-4 in favor of the Devils when he was on the ice. He's stepping up at the right time, and as they say, better late than never.
Game Score Chart
Advanced stats from Natural Stat Trick