James Nichols
NEWARK—When the New Jersey Devils are on, they’re really on. Typically, they’re firing on all cylinders, creating a plethora of high-danger scoring chances as puck possession monsters. However, when the Devils are off, they can be really off. Like, so off the way they were on Sunday against the Colorado Avalanche, who routed the Devils to a 4-0 shutout. Amid the beating Colorado put on the lifeless Devils, a concerning trend continued, to which even they don’t have answers for.
3 Thoughts: Avalanche Embarrass Devils; Concerning Trend; Emotionless
When the Devils are at their best, they’re piling on scoring chances on the rush. Typically, their speed and skill allows them to transition the puck from one end of the ice to the other.
The issue last night? The Avalanche clogged the neutral zone and completely negated the Devils’ rush, resulting in limited scoring chances for New Jersey throughout the 60-minute tilt.
Everyone has an off night. It hasn’t been overly alarming when that happens, especially since they’re still sitting near the top of the Metropolitan Division.
However, this? This is alarming. The Devils’ inability to capture the first lead, forking it over in nine of their last 10 games, was supposed to be last season’s problem.
Even they’re struggling to explain it.
“Tonight? I would ask [Jesper] Bratt to let the puck come down a little bit lower before he puts it in the net,” Sheldon Keefe said to New Jersey Hockey Now.
In other words, no answer. Keefe’s referring to Bratt’s goal that was waved off by the referees immediately for a high stick in the first period. However, that doesn’t explain giving up the first goal to Ross Colton, who scored before Bratt’s was determined no good.
Previous to Colton’s goal, the Devils actually were going well. They owned the shot differential 4-0 and were seemingly matching the Avalanche’s pace.
However, it was one costly mistake that flipped the game on it’s head when Colton tapped in a pass from below the goal line—scoring on the Avs’ first shot of the game—that had all Devils defenders looking south. When, in reality, they probably should have been tying up the Avalanche forward on Jake Allen’s doorstep.
So what is it? Is it a mentality thing? A structure thing? With all the veterans in the room, this shouldn’t be an issue, as it was last season when the Devils allowed an NHL-worst 57 first goals.
“You know, it starts with the players’ mindset going into games,” Johnathan Kovacevic said to New Jersey Hockey Now. “We know that. The coaches have brought that to our attention. We know we’ve got to start better. So, yeah, ultimately, it’s on us.”
The Devils won’t say they lack confidence. Nor should anyone think that that’s the issue here. The Devils have done well responding to the concerning trend by fighting their way back into games. Usually, they’re quick to reset the scoreboard and tie the game, which reflects in their 6-4-0 record in the last 10 games.
And although the Devils’ captain says he doesn’t believe giving up the early lead was New Jersey’s issue against the Avalanche, he worked his way back in his response—nearly contradicting Kovacevic’s answer. He then almost agreed that there certainly is room for improvement.
“Uh, how do we fix that?” Nico Hischier scoffed in response to New Jersey Hockey Now, at a loss for words.
“Be more ready,” he said when he eventually found his thoughts. “But like I said earlier, that wasn’t an issue. I think we were better in the first 10 minutes. We didn’t score on our chances, and we had a couple mistakes that ended up back of our net.”
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