Here are some quick hits following last night's loss to DET and my thoughts heading into tonight's game vs. NYI:
PK Let Them Down… or Did it?
As I discussed during last night’s game, looks can be deceiving. DET’s PP was 22nd in the NHL coming into the game, but their underlying numbers have been painting a different picture, as they are expected to be scoring the most PPG per 2 minutes in the NHL. They just hadn’t been finishing their chances.
So, yes, you can say the Devils' PK had an “off night,” but to concede 2 PPGs against a PP that is generating the highest rate of chances comes as no surprise to me. The PP has been one of DET’s strengths this season, despite them not finishing their chances, so you can’t take that away from them.
Kane’s PPG/GWG
In the postgame show, I talked about the fact that, yes, Marky would be the first to tell you that you still probably need a save on that Kane goal. I’m not taking anything away from Kane's individual play, as that is a first-ballot HOFer coming down Broadway with a Grade A chance. He will make you pay if you put him in that situation. Goals are going to happen, especially in a situation like this, but the timing of this goal was an absolute backbreaker.
Captain Nico
Captain Nico continues to steer the ship and will this Devils team as they struggle to put together consistent efforts. Nico has been outstanding, and his effort last night was nothing short of that, as he scored 2 PPGs in a game for the first time in his career. The captain also tied his career high in FO taken with 32, as he just continues to take on a tremendous and historic faceoff workload this season.
Take a look at this company he’s in when it comes to FO Taken/GP through a team’s first 10 GP of a season, as well as some career-best starts he’s building on in a few categories this season.
Side note on this first graphic, Nico officially became #1 on this list after last night’s game, as his now 25.3 FO/GP rate has passed Barkov’s 25.1 in 2022-23!
Key Momentum Moments
For me, what’s been the Devils' biggest killer in this 3-game losing streak is that they have not been able to manage key moments in games. Even after scoring a momentum-shifting goal, the Devils are allowing other teams to take the momentum back and build upon it without any response.
Three things are not in sync in these moments: puck management, simple reads, and timely goaltending. When your opposition is tilting the ice for a stretch of a period, which is inevitable in just about any NHL game, you have to find ways to counter that and weather the storm by getting timely saves, making a simple play to exit your own zone, or, get a goal back, and Devils are unfortunately doing none of those things right now. As HC Keefe has been emphasizing, the Devils are turning over the puck at a high rate and defending poorly at critical times in games, and the goaltending has not been good enough in its own right to cover up for that.
Fatigue is No Excuse
Yes, the Devils traveled last night from Detroit and are in the second half of a back-to-back, while the Islanders have had two days off since their last game (which also happened to be a loss in Detroit).
It doesn’t matter, though. In both situations of the Devils’ losses to TOR and TBL at home, their opponents were playing in the second half of a back-to-back traveling from Canada, while the Devils were resting at home for 2+ days, getting good practices in and sleeping in their cozy beds in New Jersey. Yet, the Devils lost both games by multiple goals. Teams are not using the fatigue excuse against the Devils, so the Devils can’t use it tonight against the Islanders. It’s as simple as that!
Allen Starting
I initially assumed that Marky would’ve gotten the W last night, and we’d then see him play in his first B2B set of games for the Devils tonight. Due to the way last night’s game ended, though, that is not the case. Keefe is going back to Allen, despite him allowing 8 goals in his last start on home ice, while also having a 2-5-0 record, .849 Sv%, & 4.39 GAA in 8 career starts against NYI (...I know, not ideal). For a veteran goaltender like Allen, though, he understands the situation the Devils are in tonight, that they desperately are going to need him to be their best player. He will be prepared!
Tune in to our pregame show tonight as I continue to break down what's been going wrong for the Devils, Captain Nico's performance, and preview tonight's game vs. NYI. I'll also discuss the Devils' hot power play, Timo's strong start, and the decision to start Jake Allen. It all starts at 6:30 p.m. on MSGSN!
Let's Go Devils!
-Sal
Here are some more graphics from last night's broadcast!
