With the road losing streak behind us, let's keep the good vibes rolling tonight at the Rock! 🔥
JAKE ALLEN
As Sheldon alluded to, this was exactly the response game we all anticipated that a consummate pro like Jake Allen would have following his worst start of the season last week in PHI. Jake stopped 3.69 Goals Above Expected and all 42 pucks that came his way, for his highest-save SHO since Oct. 28, 2021 – when he had a 45-save SHO in SJS as a member of the Habs – and the T-3rd highest-save SHO in franchise history!
GREAT ROAD PROCESS & WIN
But at the end of the day, I don't think the shots truly told the story of the game. The way the Devils managed the first period was commendable, and they followed it up with an especially impressive 2nd period, due to the fact that BUF was entering the day as the best 2nd period team at home in terms of Goal DIFF. (+11).
This was a very solid road win start to finish, against a Sabres team that's been one of the better home teams in the league. 
FINDING THEIR STREAKY STRETCH?!
A few articles ago, I talked about the importance of guys like Cotter, Pally, and Noesen finding their “streaky” stretch of hockey in this second 20-game segment. Well, I’m hoping this BUF game was an indication of that narrative coming into fruition, as Cotts (1-1–2 PTS @ BUF) snapped his 16-game goal drought and Pally (0-2–2 PTS @ BUF) snapped his 9-game point drought. And, yes, Noesen is contributing in other ways right now, with two important first-period fights (stuck up for the Captain vs. Compher & answered the bell vs. Tage) in the last 3 GP, and the Devils ended up winning both of those games in regulation. 🥊🔥
And yes, what a nasty goal by Cotter, aka “the Mitts,” aka “the Sabre Killer,” on the breakaway. Can't wait to chat ice-side with Cotts tonight at the start of our pregame show!
SHELDON’S THREE PHASES — 2 OF 3 ✅
From a team perspective, it was great to see the Devils take advantage of their pit stop on the road to snap that three-game road losing streak. Now, we can come back home for the next four games and build upon this 3-Game W streak!
BIG DIVISIONAL REMATCH
I’m looking forward to seeing what type of response we get from the Devils tonight. If I’m in that room, I’m frothing at the mouth at the opportunity for a rematch with PHI after the awful meltdown we had in their building last Saturday. It’s another 4-Point Divisional game that will be critical for the Metro standings, as PHI is sitting just 4 PTS behind the Devils with a game in hand…
MORE NAIL-BITERS IN OUR FUTURE?
I don’t know about you fans, but Dano and I in the booth last night enjoyed the fact that the Devils finally won in regulation, for the first time since Nov. 1, giving us a break from sweating out the 2 PTS 😅
However, I’m not so sure this break will last long, as the stats would tell us that we’re in for a couple more OT games coming up... These next two opponents live in overtime, just like the Devils have lately!
Join Rupper, Rachel, and me at 6:30 p.m. for tonight's pregame show! Again, I will be interviewing Paul Cotter during pregame skate!
-Sal
Here are a couple of additional graphics from last night's broadcast!
