It’s spooky season! And although the New Jersey Devils are off to an 8-3-0 start to their regular season, there are certainly some scary trends creeping into their game.
Devils head coach Sheldon Keefe was rightfully ticked after their loss on Thursday to the San Jose Sharks.
READ MORE: Sheldon Keefe Pulls No Punches, Calls Out Devils After Consecutive Beatdowns
It wasn’t the first time this week the other team won, but the Devils lost.
They’ve left four points on the table recently against two very different opponents. One loss is more digestible than the other. However, the trends present through both are cause for concern.
Let’s take a look at a few scary trends through Halloween, or the first 11 games.
Slow Starts
For the second time in as many games, the Devils have forked over the first period lead early. Whether it be a lack of discipline, giving the opposition a power play opportunity, or a fumbled puck at five-on-five, the Devils have not been sharp out of the gate.
That’s not a new issue. The Devils have been doing this kind of thing for several seasons now. That was instilled in them under Lindy Ruff, oddly right after the superb 2022-23 season, and it’s lasted since.
Through the first 11 games of the season, it’s been less present than in the past. However, it’s becoming more of an issue in recent games, and it’s not just on the road.
The Devils handed over leads to the Sharks on home ice in their latest home stint, as well as to the Toronto Maple Leafs and Florida Panthers. And when the Edmonton Oilers were in town, they escaped the first period with no score. However, they were outshot 9-4 and out-chanced in the opening frame.
Keefe explained after Thursday’s loss that the special teams and penalty kill kept them afloat through the eight-game win-streak. He also saw little panic in the Devils when they fell behind. However, they’ve struggled to replicate that in recent games, and can ill-afford to continue to chase the game.
Defensive Structure
Brett Pesce’s absence is way too apparent.
The Devils’ defense can not fall off this far due to one player’s absence. Perhaps it’s the youth in the lineup. Simon Nemec has had some polarizing moments this season, Seamus Casey is more of an offensive defenseman, and although he’s taken massive strides, Luke Hughes is far from perfect defensively.
The Devils have gotten away from their structure. Perhaps the shuffling of pairings has something to do with it, but you can’t blame Keefe for trying to find the right mix.
Too often has the opposition invaded the Devils’ slot, crept below the dots, and put themselves in high-danger scoring areas while the defense has been caught puck-watching, which ultimately leads to a goal against New Jersey.
Whereas before the Devils were doing well with constant puck pressure and limiting the opposition to low-danger, perimeter chances, they’ve looked more like Swiss-cheese lately, with far too many holes in their structure that’s led to odd-man rushes and prime scoring opportunities.
The number of high-danger chances given up are alarming in the last two games. They need to tighten up, quickly.
Goaltending
Before Thursday, Devils fans were confident with Jake Allen in goal. After Thursday, perhaps you’ve lost a bit of trust.
When the Devils fell to the Sharks 5-2 on Thursday, Allen finished with -1.96 goals saved above expected. In the scope of this season, that was uncharacteristic, as he came into the tilt with the Sharks in the top-10, at 5.0 saves above expected.
Blunders will happen, and perhaps this was Allen’s. It’s a long season, and he’s been solid thus far.
The scarier trend is with Jacob Markstrom, who owns a dreadful 5.13 GAA, .830 SV%, and -5.6 saves above expected.
Contract talks with the 35-year-old netminder are in process. Perhaps, GM Tom Fitzgerald wants to slow those down a bit.
Markstrom has to show some sort of resilience here and steal the Devils a game or two before management proceeds with any further negotiations.
The Devils have been built as an offensive juggernaut that will need to rely on defense and goaltending when they cheat a bit in the offensive zone. They’re skilled enough to take those chances, however, if the reinforcements can’t uphold their end of the bargain, it will be time for change sooner rather than later.
Perhaps then it will finally be time to give Nico Daws a real shot.
