Here are my quick hits following the Devils’ 5-1 W at Madison Square Garden heading into the start of a five-game homestand tonight vs. SEA:
Tremendous 5-1 W
It was a commanding win on Monday night at the Garden, and it was impressive to watch the Devils were able to take charge of this game by scoring in key opportunistic moments just like they did in some of their previous road wins, including the game in WSH a couple of weeks ago.
Refusing to Lose 2 in a Row
Going back to the storyline I touched on in my last article, I am loving the bounce-back efforts we are consistently seeing from this Devils team, as they’ve once again shown everyone that they can turn the page and find a way to win the next one after a tough loss. That mentality of refusing to lose two in a row clearly exists inside that room this season, which is very telling that this team has the mental resilience and maturity to establish themselves as a true, perennial contender in this league. 
Started on Time
Another storyline to follow up on from my pregame article vs. NYR is that the Devils came out strong and took control of this game right from the 18:33 mark of the first period when Bratter scored first and put the Rangers on their heels right from the onset. That was exactly the recipe for the Devils to get going and be successful in this game, as they could not afford to concede the first goal for the 8th straight game and find themselves chasing another game, especially against an NYR team that was entering this contest 11-1-0 and the best team in the league based on PTS% (.917 PTS%) when scoring the first goal.
The PK
Wow, what a remarkable job the NJD PK did in this game, especially on that PK midway through the first period. The Devils blocked 5 shots in a row on that first PK and finished the night with 10 SH blocks, which is the most on record by a Devils team since this stat was first tracked in 2020-21. Outstanding! Now, throw away all the stats for a second and just relive some of the desperation and mental fortitude on display in that first sequence!
As I also touched on in this clip, when you are coming off a game in which you gave up 3 PPGs in one period, it doesn’t matter who you are; you’re going to be rattled after that. So, make no mistake about it: for the Devils to get that first kill in the way that they did was imperative for them psychologically. It also happened to be an equally important moment in this game, as the Devils had just taken a 2-0 lead and could not afford to concede any momentum at the time. Great stuff!
Marky
Marky was exceptional between the pipes in this one. Not only did he stop 38 of 39 shots (.971 Sv%), but to come into MSG and stop 4.10 Goals above expected is phenomenal. According to SportLogiq, this is the only time a Devils’ goaltender has recorded a 4.00+ GSAE in a game since the stat was first tracked in 2017-18, which really exemplifies the fact that this team has lacked elite goaltending performances like this for a very long time.
Set the Tone at Home
Looking ahead to the upcoming five-game homestand, starting tonight vs. SEA, I see these five games as 10 critical points on the line not only IN the standings – but as an opportunity to establish the Rock as a tough place to play in. The reality is that, right now, the Devils have accumulated a 6-5-2 record on home ice and have yet to prove to the rest of the league that they’ve put the home struggles from last season behind them. So, at face value, yes, these are five non-divisional opponents, but don’t get it twisted: This is one of the most important stretches of hockey the Devils will play all season. You have to look at these five games and say, “Hey, let’s put our building back on the map of places teams don’t want to visit!” Simple!
It will be critical that the Devils take at least 7 of the 10 points on the table throughout this homestand. For me, that all starts with starting on time at home now. Yes, you started on time at MSG and got the result, but can you now replicate that at home by taking advantage of a SEA team that is 0-4-0 on second half of back-to-backs this season and has conceded first in all 4 of those games. It still has been 5 games since the Devils scored first at home, and that’s why their 2-3-0 record in their last 5 home games is what it is!
Bratt’s 500th GP
Tonight, I’ll be interviewing Bratter ahead of his 500th game, which is such a remarkable feat for a former 6th-round draft pick and just speaks volumes to the character of a guy like Jesper to consistently put his head down and grind to improve every year since making the team in his first training camp as a 19-year-old. And… now be a lock on Sweden’s Four Nation’s roster in February. Tremendous!
Dougie’s 800th GP
Well, as impressive as Bratter’s 500 GP milestone is in itself, that is not to be outdone by the big man, Dougie Hamilton, who will be skating in his 800th GP tonight. For Dougie to dominate in the way that he has for 13 seasons has been equally remarkable, and it has been especially impressive to watch him waste no time bouncing back this season after missing 62 GP last year and having offseason surgery.
Be sure to join us on MSGSN for the pregame show tonight as I chat with Bratter ice side in the pregame skate. Then, Rachel and I will discuss the NYR game, Jesper and Dougie's milestones, and preview tonight's game vs. SEA. It all starts at 6:30 p.m.!
Let's Go Devils!
-Sal
Here are some graphics from Monday night's broadcast!
