Hey, everyone!
It’s great to be back on here for my fourth season bringing you fans my game day newsletter! It was tough to watch the Devils lose the season opener in Carolina, but let’s be honest - they only lost because they didn’t have the MSG crew in the building pumping their tires 😉
All joking aside, this was a tough one for the Devils. Yes, the boys showed tremendous resilience to come back from three separate one-goal deficits in this game, but the reality is that none of it matters because they didn’t leave Raleigh with any points.
Let’s get into some pregame thoughts as we gear up for Game #2 in Tampa tonight.
Marky was 11-7-2 last season following a loss. It is no surprise he will get the start again tonight; I’m looking forward to seeing how he will bounce back.
For me, the greatest positive we can take away from this game was that the Devils’ 5v5 scoring came through, with all three NJD goals coming at 5v5. It’s no secret that the lack of 5v5 scoring is the main narrative that cannot carry over from last season, as NJD finished 26th in that category. All things considered, it was a strong start from a 5v5 scoring standpoint.
Another common theme with all three Devils' goals in Carolina was that each goal came off the rush, with two of the goals starting with Jack and Bratt initiating the DZ transition. Rachel and I will break these goals down in-depth during tonight’s pregame show.
Special teams will be on full display tonight! Talk about a head-to-head matchup of two battleships. Both teams had each of their special teams finish in the top 6. TBL had a top-5 ranked PP and top-6 ranked PK last season, and their dangerous PP has already found its rhythm, going 2/3 vs. OTT in their opener. Stay out of the box!!
The October schedule is not getting any “easier.” (...You guys know me, I'll be the first to tell you that there is no such thing as an “easy game” in the NHL!) However, 8 of the Devils’ first 10 opponents this month are 2025 playoff teams - tied for the most of any team - making October an especially tough test for NJD right out of the gate. TBL (#4) was right behind CAR (#3) in terms of PTS% at home last season, so it will be especially critical that the Devils score the first goal tonight. You don’t want to find yourself chasing another tough road game like this. Now, this isn’t a “must-win” game by any means, but boy, you sure don’t want to go into Columbus 0-2-0. Talk about the pressure rising in the cooker, if so!
Speaking of October, Mr. October appears to be back once again. With his 1-1–2 PTS in the season opener, Bratter continues to add to a resume he's been building since 2022 as one of the most consistent players in October. You just have to love the fact that this guy comes ready to play right from the get-go every single year. And yes, I’m expecting another big game out of Bratter tonight, seeing he has 6 goals in 8 career GP in Tampa Bay — including his first career “Bratt Trick” a couple of years ago!
Don’t forget to tune in early tonight for our first pregame show of the season! Rachel and I will recap Thursday night’s loss in CAR, chat about secondary scoring, and break down some keys to picking up that much-needed W tonight. It all starts at 6:30 p.m. on MSGSN2!
-Sal
