Tonight, the Devils can tie a franchise record by starting the season 8-0-0 at home! 🔥
3 STRAIGHT OT/SO WINS AT HOME
It is becoming a theme that the Devils are finding ways to win games that they would have lost last season, and the win vs. PIT was another example of that.
Last season, the Devils went to OT seven times at home, and they came away with the second point only twice. This season, they have already surpassed that total in the first three home OT games alone, which have all occurred consecutively. But forget OT/Shootouts for a moment - these are the types of games that would have been regulation losses last season, in my books!!!
Jake Allen was coming off two rough starts on the road, where the Devils forced him to face a breakaway chance on his first shot AG in each game. So, I was excited to see how he would respond in a divisional game, at home, for first place in the Metro. With the Devils having to defend for most of the game, Jaker was rock solid. He stopped almost 2 goals above expected - including 1.22 in the first period alone - to improve his individual home record to 5-0-0. 👏
Arseny Gritsyuk has been unbelievable. Of the 13 Devils who have played in all 15 games, he ranks top three in all of the critical categories seen in the graphic below. And, remember that of his 193:19 total minutes 5v5, ONLY 52:13 have been with Nico, and only 18:01 with Jack! Other than his Goals Share (GF%), all of his underlying numbers are better when Jack and Nico do not center him. (As for his GF% being lower, this is expected, as he is playing on the 3rd or 4th line when not with those two).
The bottom line is that he is the real deal, and a winger who can drive his own line when needed.
SCHAEFER IS SPECIAL
There are so many good things I could say about the reigning #1 OVR pick, Matt Schaefer, who the Devils will face for the first of many times tonight. But, if I did, this article would never end! So, I will let these stats (and my soundbite from our PIT postgame show) do the talking! Hopefully, NYI#48 is quiet tonight, because right now it seems like he is setting a new NHL record every time he touches the ice 😂
INTERVIEWING BRATTER TONIGHT!
Jesper Bratt has been CLUTCH for the Devils in these past couple of games 🔥
Tune into our pregame show tonight at 6:30 p.m. as I chat w/ Bratter ice-side during warmups!
SCHNEIDS IS JOINING US AGAIN!
Can't wait to chat it up with Schneids, as he will rejoin Rachel and me at the desk tonight! Maybe he has some good insights on how the Devils can beat his former teammate, Ilya Sorokin, who is coming off a 33-save shutout at the Garden on Saturday 👀
Here are some additional graphics from Saturday's broadcast!
