Takeaways From Devils' Back-to-Back vs. Ducks & Canucks
The good vibes the New Jersey Devils captured in a 4-1 win over the Ducks went up in smoke in a 2-1 loss to the Canucks.
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The New Jersey Devils’ schedule has not let up. To cap off a busy week, they had back-to-back matinee starts vs. the Anaheim Ducks and Vancouver Canucks over the weekend.
The Devils played one of their better games in recent weeks against the Ducks, winning 4-1. But they couldn’t follow it up against the Canucks, losing 2-1 to the worst team in the NHL. Here are some takeaways from each game.
Devils Responded Against the Ducks
After getting drubbed by the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday, the Devils needed a response against the Ducks. Coach Sheldon Keefe got exactly that, even though they fell behind 1-0.
The big story in the win over the Ducks was the Devils’ forward depth stepping up. Juho Lammikko had what was easily his best game as a Devil. He picked up his first point as a Devil with a great rush into the offensive zone to set up Stefan Noesen for the tying goal.
Lammikko was also instrumental in Paul Cotter’s goal, which gave the Devils a 2-1 lead. He made a great play behind the net, then went to the front of the net and ended up getting a stick on Colton White’s point shot. That helped redirect the puck to Cotter, who had an open net.
Speaking of White, he may not be flashy, but he’s quietly a very effective third-pair defender. He picked up two assists against the Ducks and played a very sound defensive game.
White made a great play on Cody Glass’ goal, keeping the puck in at the blue line and sending it to Ondřej Palát, who made a great pass to Glass for some crucial insurance.
Defensively, the Devils played one of their best games in 10-12 games, as Jake Allen put it in his post-game interview. Aside from Troy Terry’s breakaway goal, the Ducks did not have many high-danger chances, if any. And if they did, Allen was there to make the save.
Goaltending has been inconsistent this season, but Allen has been the better of the Devils’ two netminders. He played well after giving up five goals in relief of Jacob Markström against the Lightning, saving 2.33 goals above expected.
Overall, there was a lot to like about the Devils’ game. They played well at five-on-five, got good goaltending, and went 3/3 on the penalty kill. It was a much-needed two points, but they couldn’t follow it up against the Canucks.
Devils’ Poor Start Doomed Them vs. the Canucks
For all the good vibes the Devils managed to capture against the Ducks, it all went up in smoke against the Canucks.
It started with what was arguably one of the Devils’ worst first periods of the season. The Canucks, who are dead last in the standings and dead last in expected goals share (xG%), were outshooting the Devils 7-1 at one point in the first period.
Even more embarrassing, the Canucks were without Elias Pettersson due to injury, and they just traded their captain, Quinn Hughes, to the Minnesota Wild. And that was how the Devils came out in the first period.
I get that it was their third game in four nights, but the Devils found their legs over the final 40 minutes. They thoroughly outplayed the Canucks over the final two periods, controlling 72.6 percent of the expected goals at five-on-five. They just couldn’t find the back of the net.
Still, that first period proved costly. They gave up two power-play goals and generated just 0.23 expected goals at five-on-five.
Keefe was visibly frustrated after the game, noting that the team’s effort in the second half of back-to-backs is inexcusable. He said the team needs to be tougher in the second half of back-to-back games and that it may be a mental issue at this point.
I can’t say I disagree with any of that. There was just no sense of urgency from the Devils early in the game. With no Hughes and Pettersson, they should have been able to skate the Canucks into the ground, but they didn’t.
Another takeaway from the Canucks game was the Devils’ special teams being a disaster. Despite giving up two power-play goals, they had three power-play opportunities to make up for that, including a 5-on-3 that was nearly 1:20 long, but they did nothing with any of them.
The Devils are missing some weapons from their power play. Jack Hughes, Timo Meier, Arseny Gritsyuk and even Šimon Nemec, so that’s a bit more understandable. But they need to get their special teams right because it’s costing them valuable points in the standings.
Devils Need More From Hischier & Bratt
Nico Hischier and Jesper Bratt took maintenance days at last Monday’s practice, so they might be dinged up. Even so, the Devils need more from both players while the team gets healthy.
Hischier has just one assist in his last seven games, while Bratt is only on pace for 15 goals this season. Hopefully, Gritsyuk is back from injury this week, but the team needs more from Hischier and Bratt.
The Devils just need to tread water until Hughes and Brett Pesce return to the lineup, but they aren’t even doing that. That’s because they’re not getting enough from Hischier and Bratt (and Dawson Mercer to a lesser extent).
Just four games are remaining on the schedule until the NHL Christmas break. They come against the Vegas Golden Knights, Utah Mammoth, Buffalo Sabres and New York Islanders.
These are winnable games. Ideally, the Devils capture six of eight points, but they won’t get the desired results if Hischier and Bratt aren’t finding the scoresheet. They need to step up and give the Devils more than they have lately.
Quick Hits
It’s been a rough season for Luke Hughes, but he has been playing better lately. With a goal against the Canucks, he has two goals and four points in his last five contests. With Nemec out for the foreseeable future and Dougie Hamilton playing some of the worst hockey of his career, Hughes needs to continue finding ways to generate offense from the back end.
Xavier Parent and Angus Crookshank have given the Devils a nice boost on their fourth line. Their numbers may not be great, but that’s likely more a product of Luke Glendening being their center. Parent and Crookshank have been noticeable in a good way, though. Parent skates well and has a great motor. You can say the same about Crookshank, too. Get them a proper center, and the Devils’ depth could be much improved.
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