Here are my quick hits heading into Game 3, the Devils’ home opener vs. TOR:
WIN for HC Keefe
As I talked about in Saturday’s postgame discussion with Rachel, this is the type of game that will tell me if the Devils are ready to take that next step in their maturity level as a team. Yes, you just put together tremendous B2B efforts and flew back home with 4 of 4 possible PTS from Prague. But now, can you replicate this effort in front of your home fans, stop a potential narrative that you haven’t beaten a proven playoff team yet, and get this W for your coach?!
No Excuses
Getting straight to the point, the reality is that teams historically struggle in their first game back from an international season opener. Whether it’s jet lag, the time off between games, coincidence, emotional letdown, or a combination of all four, NHL teams have only won 9 (I repeat 9!) of the 32 total GP when returning to North America after starting the season in a different continent.
Yes, the facts are what they are, but the Devils are catching TOR in the second half of a B2B, having just lost 1-0 in an intense rivalry game at the Bell Centre for MTL’s home opener last night. The Leafs had to travel, cross the border, go through customs, get in early morning, etc., etc., while the Devils waited for them in their cozy beds at home in New Jersey. So, you aren’t going to get any passes from me to use as a reason not to win this game tonight for your coach!
Nico’s FO Workload
From an individual standpoint, one thing that caught my eye in Prague was that the captain’s faceoff workload had increased tremendously when compared to last season. Granted, it is only a two-game sample set, but last season, Nico took 34.8% of the Devils’ total team FOs in the 71 games he played. So far in the 2 GP this season, HC Keefe has thrown Nico in the dot for 58 of the 110 NJD FOs, good for 52.7% (!) of the team’s total, including 30 of the 51 (58.8%) in Game 2 alone!
I’ll continue tracking this moving forward, but there’s no world in which you can expect a center’s FO workload to remain at this volume throughout an entire season.
Dawg on a Bone
As I sent out in a Twitter/X Post on Monday, I thought Mercer was one of, if not the hardest-working player in all situations for the Devils in Prague. Mercer was a DAWG ON A BONE at 5v5, on the PP, and on the PK. He earned every minute of his 37:49 TOI (#3 NJD FWs), and he got rewarded with a TREAT on Kovacevic’s goal!
Opening Night Lineup
It shouldn’t come as any surprise to anyone, but with Pally returning to practice, the Devils’ look to roll out the same lineup they used in Game 1 of the season in Prague. Keefe also ruled out Luke and Pesce for tomorrow night, which further cements the projected lineup.
There is no better (regular season) feeling than playing in your team’s home opener!
There’s so much to talk about right now, so it’s a good thing we have an HOUR, yes, HOUR-long pregame show coming your way tonight! Be sure to tune in at 6 PM as Rachel and I have special guests Marty Brodeur and GM Fitz joining us live on set.
Let’s Go Devils!
-Sal
