Hey, everyone!
I’m psyched to be back between the benches, rejoining my MSG crew tonight vs. TOR as I was in Michigan this past week coaching my son’s youth hockey team in our National Tournament.
Now, with just 4 games remaining on the Devils’ season, I’m hoping to see the team finish strong and end the season on a high note going into a long offseason. As a player, it goes a long way if you can leave Game #82 feeling good about yourself entering your summer workouts and into training camp next season. That should be the goal for every player in that room!
Jake Allen has come over to NJ from inconsistent playing time in MTL and has handled it like a true veteran. Credit to Kahkonen, as well, but all Allen has done so far in his time here is provide this team with the refresh they desperately needed between the pipes. He’s given this team a chance to win each and every game he’s played in; is bailing them out of sloppy periods; coming up clutch at the end of games; and making a presence on the highlight reel seemingly every game!
Yes, it’s only been a 10-game sample set, but this body of work from Allen so far is a massive reassurance for Fitzy and Co. knowing that they have a legitimate tandem G in their depth chart as they likely enter the goaltending market this offseason. Now that we’re (finally) done with back-to-back sets this season, I wouldn’t be surprised if NJD#34 handles the crease for each of the last 4 games, especially if Kahkonen’s injury holds him out the rest of the way.
During tonight's pregame show, I'm going to recap Luke Hughes’ production, workload, and durability as a rookie D in this league, which have been quite remarkable since the start of the season. Over the past week alone, Luke managed a career-high 32:49 (!) TOI against NYR, became the rookie D franchise scoring leader with his 45th point of the season Sunday night vs. NSH and is now riding a 7-game point streak entering tonight’s game. Outstanding!
Be sure to join Erika and me for tonight's pregame show as we continue to discuss Jake Allen, Luke Hughes, and the rest-of-season outlook for the Devils. It all starts at 6:30 PM!
-Sal
