Happy Thanksgiving Eve, everyone! 🦃
BACK IN THE (REGULATION) W COLUMN 📈
The 3-game losing streak has been snapped, and so has the streak of 9 games (since Nov. 1 @ LAK) that the Devils had failed to win in regulation and/or score 4 goals in regulation.
It took a tremendous, gutsy, wolfpack mentality of an effort to pull off this win, and Marky was stellar. I loved the response by the team after J.T. Compher blindsided the Captain. Marky makes a thrilling, nail-biting, breakaway save on Compher right after he comes out of the penalty box. Noesen immediately fights Compher after that breakaway save, and then the NJD’s PK kills off Noesen’s extra 2-minute roughing penalty. LOVED IT! 👊💪
The Devils would then proceed to score three goals in the first period — Something they haven’t done since back in game two of the season, when a team also went after the Captain at the start of the game – in that case, Tampa Bay. Let me remind you what happened: Timo Time not only stuck up for the Captain, but he also scored the first goal in that game (which the Captain assisted on, too) just like he did vs. DET.
And what was equally commendable and comparable to what they did in that Tampa Bay game (where they made history by blocking 11 shots in the final 3:30!) was the way the Devils finished this game. The desperation to protect their lead down to the wire was admirable. Detroit had 13 shot attempts, but only three shots made it through to the net. The best part was how they stood up for each other at the end. Everyone had their gloves dropped, showing the league that they are not gonna be pushed around at the Rock.
CRACKED, BUT UNBREAKABLE GLASS 🔥
Boy, Cody Glass has had some rough injury luck this season, but I love the fact that pucks keep on finding the back of the net for him, as his 4 goals are the most he’s scored through 11 GP of any season in his career. Just gotta pray he stays healthy now!!! 🙏
SHELDON’S THREE PHASES: WON 2 OF 3 ✅
- Goaltending (Marky vs. Talbot): ✅
- 5v5 (4-2 GF): ✅
- PP (0/1) / PK (2/3): ❌
(...And how 'bout a bonus ✅ for a gusty win?!)
Let's keep the check marks and Ws coming tonight vs. STL!
INTERVIEWING TIMO TONIGHT! ⏰
THE BLOWN-LEAD BLUES?!
STL enters tonight with 9 Blown Lead Losses (including a 1-0 blown lead L their last GP @ NYR), the most of any team. Despite scoring first in 8 of their last 9 games, they have only 3 wins to show for it.
Having said all of this, they have found ways to get points in 7 of their last 9 games. So by no means is this team just gonna roll over and hand the two points to the Devils tonight.
LACK OF SCORING
Nobody is taking the bull by the horns offensively, and this team is really struggling to score as a result. STL is scoring at the 6th-lowest rate per game this season, and they’ve only scored 3+ goals once in their last 6 games. To put things in perspective, Jake Neighbours missed 12 games this season, and still is tied for the team lead in goals with 6...
STRUGGLING GOALTENDING
In the absence of scoring, Jordan Binnington’s numbers this season have not been good enough to steal games, and neither have Joel Hofer's. Talking about at Binner, specifically, who I anticipate will start tonight for STL, his .880 Sv%, .776 Slot Sv%, and -0.33 GSAE this season all rank in the bottom half of the league this season among qualified goalies.
However, it's important to remember that we're talking about arguably the best active goalie in the game when it comes to his ability to rise to the occasion in the most important moments of a season. So, hopefully, that “must-win” engine inside that lives inside of Binnington does not start revving up tonight, because you can't let him shut you out on Thanksgiving eve two years in a row, let alone three years in a row by any goalie!
Join Rachel and me at 6:30 p.m. as we break down the Wolfpack mentality on display once again in the DET game and guys stepping up offensively. Again, I will be interviewing Timo tonight during pregame warmups!
-Sal
Here are some additional graphics from Monday night’s broadcast!
