Here are my quick hits following the Devils’ 4-3 L in BUF, heading into tonight’s game in PIT:
My Overall Thoughts
Despite not picking up any points in BUF on Sunday afternoon, I thought the Devils played really well for the majority of the 60 minutes. Unfortunately, they just couldn’t find a way to execute on many of their chances – especially on the power play – and ultimately ran out of time in their comeback after conceding three costly goals in the first period. At this point in the season, there are no moral victories, so it’ll be critical they repeat this process tonight in PIT, but this time, get the job done!
Penalty Kill
A major bright spot in this game, which had been equally impressive in the 5-0 W over PHI on Wednesday night, was the Devils’ penalty kill. The PK was outstanding, going 4/4 once again while killing off a 5-minute major and scoring a SHG in the process. And look, entering these two games, this was a BUF PP that had scored a PPG in 4 of its previous 6 home games, as well as a PHI PP that had scored 6 PPGs in its previous 9 games. Other than the first PHI game on the 27th, the PK has done a fabulous job surviving without the Captain in his 3-game absence so far. The PP, on the other hand, is desperately missing him right now!
Paul Cotter: Road Warrior
It was great to see Paul Cotter snap his 10-game goalless drought, with not one but two goals, the first being a hardworking goal going hard to the blue paint and the second being that patented Cotter snipe we’ve seen a few times this season. Cotts continues to be the ultimate road warrior and Sabre killer this season, scoring in all three games against BUF and up to 5 goals in his last 10 road GP. Now, don’t get me wrong, nobody’s complaining about 10 of Cotter's 12 goals & 14 of his 18 points coming on the road! But with that being said, I hope things also start to balance out at home for him, especially when he faces his former team (VGK) for the first time this season on Thursday night. He now has 6 goals on the road since the last time he scored at the Rock, that being back on Oct. 27 vs. ANA!
Penguin Power Killers
Now, looking ahead to tonight in PIT, let’s go back to the PK conversation for a moment, as there seems to be a very eye-opening trend going on at PPG Paints Arena for the Devils. Since 2018, the Devils are +2 shorthanded against the Penguins in PIT, scoring 6 SHGs to PIT’s 4 PPGs over the 47 PP opportunities the Pens have had in this span. Crazy!
Entering tonight, the Devils have scored a SHG in 3 straight games in PIT and in 4 of the last 5 games. Maybe (just maybe), the Devils will extend this streak to four by scoring a SHG in back-to-back games for the first time since Dec. 2021.
Bratter & Mercer
The other trend that I hope continues tonight in PIT is the outstanding play of Bratter and Mercer, both currently this season and in their respective careers when they’ve played the Pens. I mentioned this Bratt GWG stat – seen in the graphic below – in my pregame article last season when the Devils visited the Pens on Nov. 16...
“If Bratter’s able to activate this “clutch gene” he’s had at PPG Paints Arena, it would come at a perfect time for him and this team right now.”
…And Bratter happened to have scored the GWG in that game — So, I have to mention it again for good omen, because the Devils need points tonight!
Be sure to tune in tonight to our pregame show as Rachel and I continue to break down the BUF game, the PK’s last 2 outings, Nico Daws getting the start, and some keys to a W tonight in PIT. We’ll also take a deep dive into the Eastern Conference standings heatin’ up! It all starts at 6:30 p.m. on MSGSN!
Let’s Go Devils!
-Sal
Here are some graphics from Sunday's broadcast!
