Here are some quick hits as you get set for puck drop in Raleigh!
Good Start Led to Good Results
What I especially liked about yesterday’s W over Utah is that the Devils came out, defended well in the first period, and did not concede an early goal, which UTA has been feeding off of this season, scoring within the first 5 minutes of the game in two of their three wins. Ultimately, this allowed the Devils to settle in and take a stranglehold of the game starting in the 2nd period.
PK
How dominant has the PK been?! The PK came through yet again with a perfect game vs UTA (4/4), now 93.3% (14/15) on the season! The stats below say it all: top 10 in some of the most important key categories to a successful PK. Rachel and I will break down the PK in more detail later tonight during the pregame show.
PP
As I discussed on yesterday’s postgame show, the PP1 unit putting one in the back of the net will go a long way, psychologically, for this group. The PP did an exceptional job embracing a “shooting mentality” yesterday, as they fired 16 (!!!) PP Shots on net, NJD’s most PP shots in a game since… ready for it… Feb. 14, 2012!!! Crazy!
I also love that HC Keefe changed things up and stuck Noesen at the NF on PP1, which drew attention and created a diversion for the UTA PK, immediately resulting in a goal. It’ll be interesting to see which of Timo or Noesen start tonight’s game on PP1. I’m guessing it will be Noesen due to the fact that NJD is playing against his former team.
Seamus Casey
Yesterday was, without a doubt, Seamus Casey’s best game so far, both offensively and defensively. He wasn’t giving up odd-man rushes, he wasn’t getting caught behind the play, he controlled 100.0% (!) of the HD Chances WOI, notched his first career NHL assist on Noesen’s PPG, and became the 2nd rookie D in NJD history to record 3+ goals in his first 5 GP! The poise and comfortability that Seamus has put on display as an undersized, 20-year-old D in the NHL have been quite remarkable, and he just continues to find ways to “buy himself time” in the lineup!
Jake Allen Shutout
It was great to see Jake Allen improve to 2-0-0 on the season and post his first shutout as a Devil yesterday! It was only Allen’s second shutout since the calendar year 2022, so this one had to feel real good for him.
Yes, only 20 shots against, but eight of which came from the slot, and this was a game where Allen was coming in for his first start in nine days against a 3-0-0 team that had scored 5, 5, and 6 goals, respectively, in their first 3 GP. Make no mistake about it; that is not an “easy shutout” by any means! Look, he saved 1.77 goals above expected when it was all said and done! So far, it is safe to assume Jake is picking up right where he left off from his strong stint with the Devils post-deadline last season.
Marky’s Turn
If Marky can put together a solid performance tonight and help to pull at least a point out of CAR, it’ll have HC Keefe feeling extremely confident in his ability to turn to either goaltender on any given night, at least for the time being. Marky has a solid 2-2-0, .914 Sv%, and 2.97 GAA track record in Carolina. He will need to be the Devils’ best player tonight, especially in the first period, as the Hurricanes have been resting since Oct. 11 because their second game with TBL was postponed due to… ironically… a hurricane.
Same Commitment to Defending
In CAR’s first and only game of the season so far, a main point of frustration for the Canes in their 4-1 L to TBL was their inability to create opportunities and get shots through on net, as only 21 of their 61 SATs (34.4%) hit the net and forced Andrei Vasilevskiy to make a save. The Devils did a tremendous job taking away time and space, ending plays quickly, getting in lanes, and committing to blocking shots yesterday against UTA. It will be imperative that they bring this same receipt again tonight.
Special Teams
Probably the biggest factor and reason CAR lost their opening game was special teams, as they went 0/4 on the PP and conceded 2 goals on 6 opportunities to the TBL PP. If the Devils’ special teams execute like yesterday and don’t give the Canes any reason to feel good about their own special teams early on, I love their chances of leaving Carolina with a W!
Start on Time!
Lastly, START ON TIME! Since CAR HC Rod Brind'amour took over in 2018-19, the Canes have the second-best PTS% (82-6-7 record) in the NHL when leading after the first period on home ice. I’m not saying that this Devils team can’t make a comeback should they be forced to tonight; it’s just that the Hurricanes will have more energy to defend and outlast the Devils over 60 minutes if they can get on the board first and control the game going into the middle frame. 
Tune in to MSGSN at 6:30 p.m. tonight as Rachel and I break down NJD’s stellar goaltending so far, Seamus Casey’s first 5 GP, the early success of the Devils’ PK, and CAR’s offseason subtractions.
Let’s Go Devils!
-Sal
