Hey everyone,
Although I have to once again preface by mentioning an NJD loss, I really like the opportunity the Devils have in front of them tonight in PIT following Tuesday night’s 6-3 loss in WPG.
In all 82 games last season, the Devils allowed six goals in a game only four times. Tuesday’s game, unfortunately, marked already the third time this season the Devils conceded six goals in a game. A, not-so-fun, fact about that stat is the Devils also lost in WPG last season 6-1.
Moving on! As we preview this first matchup against Ryan Graves on PIT since his departure over the off-season, I think Gravy would be the first to tell you how much pride last year’s team took in being consistently hard to play against. The Devils are going to need a much better overall team effort (from the forwards all the way down to the goaltending) to match that same level of play we saw Gravy and the 52-win Devils embrace last season.
I did open this by expressing my excitement for tonight’s opportunity in Pittsburgh against a Penguins team the Devils outscored 16-6 and swept 4-0 in last year’s season series. All four of those Ws (including an excellent .944 SV% & 2.50 GAA) were credited to NJD#41 VV, who will get the nod tonight. What a perfect time for him individually to get a jolt by having a big performance in PIT to swing momentum back in the Devils' direction.
On the same note, I’m really looking forward to seeing if the Devils' PK can be another momentum changer for this team. Last season, the Devils gave the Penguins a total of 14 power plays in the two games played at PPG Paints Arena, NJD's highest rate of opposing power plays in any road venue. Not only did the Devils kill off 13 of those power plays, but they also scored TWO shorthanded goals — both being the game winners!!!
Now, Devils fans, I’m not saying the Devils have to go outscore the Penguins at 4on5 again, and I'm certainly not saying they need to go take seven penalties again either! The Penguins are actually drawing the lowest rate of penalties in the league this season (2.7 drawn penalties/GP) and that rate is trending down over 11% lower (2.4 drawn penalties/GP) in the Pens' last five games. But, if the Devils wind up in the box a few times, the PK matching this effort and intensity from last season (especially after a lackluster 2/4 night in WPG) would rejuvenate incredible life to the PK units and to the NJD bench!
After a blazing hot start to the season with 18 PTS in the opening nine games, NJD#63 Bratter has no goals and just two assists in the last five games. With that being said, Bratter has had three GWGs in only 11 career games in PIT. So, if Bratter is able to activate this “clutch gene” he’s had at PPG Paints Arena, it would come at a perfect time for him and his team.
NJD#7 Dougie, on the other hand, isn’t necessarily struggling right now, but his Goals/GP rate is down from 0.44 to 0.20 over the last five games. As for Dougie’s numbers against the Pens last season, they were impressive, to say the least: he came away with a 4on3 OT winner and 16 total shots, potting seven PTS in the four-game season series (4 goals, 3 assists).
So, Devils fans, when I stated, optimistically, that tonight's game in PIT was just what the doctor ordered for the Devils, I really wasn’t kidding! The Devils have only one guy scoring at a point-per-game rate since Jack’s injury (that being Marino on a career-high five-game point streak), so what better time than now to spark some life in Vitek, the offense, and the struggling PK units before Jack potentially returns Saturday vs. NYR!
On tonight's pregame show, Erika and I will get into the Devils needing an overall better team effort to be successful, the Devils re-focusing in the D-Zone, and we'll feature a couple of players who have stepped up since Jack's injury. It all starts at 6:30 PM on MSG2!
-Sal
