Hey, Devils fans!
Always a great feeling to be right back at it when you had an effort and result like you did yesterday! Let's keep it going this afternoon!! 🔥
OUTSTANDING DEFENSIVE EFFORT
I talked about the fact that the Devils had to come into this game with the “Win 1-0” mentality, and that was exactly the effort we got from the team.
This was as good a defensive effort as we’ve seen all season from the Devils. To hold ANA, the second-highest scoring team in the league, to one goal and only three chances off the rush was extremely impressive, and it always helps your case when you get almost 3 Goals Saved Above Expected from your goaltender! 😉
CARRY IT OVER
This defend-first, "win the game 1-0" mentality has to carry over into today's game. Entering this afternoon, VAN is 1-8-1 in low-scoring games with 5 or fewer combined goals between both teams, as opposed to 10-9-2 in higher-scoring games w/ 6+ combined goals. I will touch on VAN more shortly, but you cannot let this game turn into a track meet! (Low-event hockey is fun when you're winning!!) 😂
MOMENTUM MOMENTS FOLLOW-UP
In this section of my article before the ANA game, I talked about the need for the Devils to better manage those key momentum moments in a game, as they had conceded 4 goals within a 3:30 span of a previous goal in the TBL game.
Well, the response we saw from the Devils yesterday in the most important momentum segments of the game was outstanding. Noesen’s GTG came 2:51 after ANA went up 1-0, Cotter’s GWG came 3:34 after the huge PK to start the 2nd period, and Glasser’s goal to extend the lead to 3-1 came 2:54 after the second successful kill later in the period. 👏
PK GOT THE JOB DONE
It’s no secret the PK had been in a major rut entering yesterday’s game, as it had conceded 7 PPGA on its previous 9 Kills (22.2%). To see the PK creating momentum off these two massive kills in the 2nd period was a nice breath of fresh air, and hopefully, an indication of the PK trending back in the right direction. (...Yes, the Devils need to get the PP going again, too!)
DANGEROUS GAME
We are looking at a potentially dangerous game today, as this will be an emotional, rested VAN team today following the emotional trade of their captain and two days off between games.
Now, if you're the Devils, you cannot afford to concede the first goal for a 7th straight game, as chasing a game against a rested, emotional team like this in the second half of a back-to-back is a recipe for disaster. Get Marky the first goal and some house money to play with!
BRACE FOR IMPACT
For the second straight season, Keifer Sherwood is the only player in the league to score 10+ goals while averaging at least 4 hits per game.
In fact, since the NHL started tracking hits in 2005-06, Sherwood will become the only player to accomplish this feat in multiple seasons if he continues on this pace.
Not to mention, he just snapped a 10-game goal drought last game vs. BUF and recorded a season-high 10 hits the game before.
Bottom line? Be aware of when VAN#44 is on the ice!
Be sure to tune into our pregame show at noon again as Rachel, Cory, and I break down yesterday's win, the big trades around the league, and some keys to securing the 4-point weekend here at home. Let's do it; LGD!!
-Sal
