Hey, everyone!
What a critical back-to-back set we have coming up on the road to close out 2025, starting with tonight's game in TOR. 🏒
OUTSTANDING 2nd PERIOD
Despite entering the second intermission still down a goal, one of the more encouraging takeaways from the WSH game on Saturday was the Devils' 2nd period.
This was the first time in a long time that we saw the Devils rediscover this dominant 2nd period brand of hockey that no team in the league seems to have an answer for. Long sequences of extended OZ time, connected shifts, and out-changing opponents to wear them down, draw penalties (and yes, score goals!) is the recipe we need to start seeing in the middle frame as frequently as we did prior to Jack's injury.
FINDING THE FINISH?!
Thankfully, the Devils finally got rewarded for another barrage of scoring chances with three critical goals in regulation, because I think Dano and I were ready to start throwing things at Logan Thompson if he kept playing the way he was up until Bratter's first goal. 😂
But all joking aside, I hope the second half of this game was the first step in the right direction when it comes to the Devils' ability to finish on their chances. Their shooting %, both on slot slots and overall shots, has been in a steady, but steep decline since October.
Now, the Devils' process is actually getting better each month in terms of the increasing rate of scoring chances they’re generating. So all we need now is for both their process and finish to get back in sync.
BRATTER FOLLOW-UP
If you happened to read the Bratter section of my pregame article before the WSH game, you would know I was manifesting some historic trends to come through and repeat themselves for Bratter to have a big game following the three-day break and snap his 6-game goal drought.
Well, Bratter came through BIG TIME with not one, but two massive GTGs, even after failing to convert on the breakaway chance he had prior to the first one going in. Hopefully, this game was an indication that NJD#63 is no longer snakebitten! 🤞 (And maybe, history repeats itself for Jack now with another big game in TOR?!)
PP BUMP
TOR's PP was dreadful before the break (13.0%; #32), but has found life just in time for the Devils to come to town. With asst. coaches Derek Lalonde and Steve Sullivan now running the PP following Marc Savard's firing, it is clicking at 60.0% (3/5) over its last two games.
The Devils have taken one total penalty in their last three games, so I am hopeful they stay out of the box again tonight... But Marky and the PK have to be ready to come up with a huge kill if called upon.
Be sure to tune into tonight's pregame show as Rachel and I break all of these topics down in-depth, as well as the special teams' attention to detail. It all starts at 6:30 p.m. on MSGSN!
-Sal
Here are some additional graphics from Saturday's broadcast!
