Devils' 3-0 Win vs. Penguins: Locking It Down

The New Jersey Devils held the Pittsburgh Penguins to just 12 shots on goal in another excellent defensive effort for the 3-0 win.

---

Follow us on Twitter: @AlexC_NJD, @NJD_OnTheRush

Follow me on Bluesky

---

It's fitting the New Jersey Devils are honoring Jacques Lemaire this season by inducting him into the Ring of Honor. That's because their team defense is playing at a level that hearkens back to the Devils' glory days under Lemaire.

The Pittsburgh Penguins came into last night's game as one of the NHL's hottest offensive teams, scoring over four goals per game in an 8-2-1 stretch. But the Devils' defense shut them down and barely allowed them to hit double-digit shot totals in a 3-0 shutout victory.

Devils Smother Another Team Defensively

We have to start with the Devils' defense again because it's playing at an unreal level right now. They came into last night's game allowing 20 shots on goal or less in their seven previous contests. The Penguins were a good test for the Devils' defense, but they passed with flying colors.

It wasn't the best start for the Devils. Sheldon Keefe even mentioned after the game that he thought the first 30 minutes weren't the Devils' most crisp of the season. But they got better as the game progressed, especially in the third period.

The Devils allowed three high-danger chances at five-on-five in the first period but just three combined over the final two frames. They left their best for the third period when they outshot the Penguins 14-3 while holding 1-0 and 2-0 leads.

One of the defensive highlights came early in the third period when Johnathan Kovacevic was defending Sidney Crosby one-on-one on the rush. He denied Crosby, pushed him behind the net, and knocked the puck loose, helping the Devils regain possession.

Jack Hughes had a couple of defensive highlights backchecking and breaking up what could have been grade-A chances in the slot. His defensive game has been outstanding nearing the halfway point of the season, and it's not ludicrous to give him some Selke love if this continues.

When all was said and done, the Penguins totaled just 12 shots on goal. That was one short of tying a franchise record for fewest shots on goal in a single contest. The Penguins may have flaws, but they can create offense and score goals. Holding them to just 12 shots on goal was no easy task, but the Devils did it as they have to so many teams lately.