James Nichols
Break out the brooms, because the New Jersey Devils are cleaning up the kitty litter. The Devils went into Sunrise, Florida and made an absolute statement, taking both games in the back-to-back mini-series against the defending Stanley Cup Champions, the Florida Panthers.
It was the kind of win that reinforces the fact that the Devils are beginning to really click under Sheldon Keefe. Now a quarter of the way through the 2024-25 season, the Devils points percentage is climbing, now sitting at .650%. They sit atop the Metropolitan Division, however, are five games ahead of the second and third place teams. Regardless, New Jersey is starting to click the way general manager Tom Fitzgerald envisioned.
RELATED: Turning Point? Devils Beginning to Fulfill Tom Fitzgerald’s Vision
Buckle up for the ride.
Devils Recap
The Devils and Panthers traded goals early after New Jersey opened the scoring courtesy of Stefan Noesen’s eighth goal of the season, followed by an answer by ex-Devils forward Jesper Boqvist. With just over 30 seconds left in the opening frame, the Devils received a power play, and Jesper Bratt regained the Devils’ lead with three seconds remaining in the period.
Sam Reinhart quickly scored the equalizer just under five minutes into the second period to tie the game at two. However, Jack Hughes immediately responded and Noesen doubled the Devils’ lead on another buzzer beater in the second period to extend New Jersey’s lead to 4-2.
Jake Allen and the Devils clamped it down in the third period. Bratt scored his second goal of the game under five minutes into the third period, then deposited the dagger into the empty-net to complete his second-career hat-trick.
Allen made 25 saves on 27 shots, and turned aside all six shots he saw on the Panthers power play.
Takeaways
Shooting Mentality
The Panthers got off to a faster start than the Devils, but it didn’t take long for New Jersey to push back. Once they finally did, the ice tilted more in the Devils’ direction in what was one of the better first periods we’ve seen all season.
By the end of the opening frame, the Devils out-shot the Panthers 13-9. Three of those shots came from Jesper Bratt, one of which he converted on while on the power play. Nico Hischier matched Bratt’s shot output in the opening frame.
As a result, New Jersey took a positive 10-6 scoring differential into the first intermission. Six of their 19 shots were created in high-danger areas, between or below the dots in the offensive zone. In fact, New Jersey was able to cash in on a rebound opportunity courtesy of Stefan Noesen to open the scoring, something they’ve struggled with a bit this season, but have recently picked up in that area.
‘Twas a good start for the Devils in Sunrise.
Suffocated the Cats
Perhaps the best thing about how the Devils hung in with the Panthers is the way they made it difficult for Florida to cut through the neutral zone or set up in the offensive end.
Head coach Sheldon Keefe has often spoken about how to attack in layers, whether that’s on offense or defense. The Devils executed that well by closing gaps and getting sticks in passing lanes to negate rushes and force turnovers to head down to the other end of the ice.
The Panthers got a bit of a taste of their own medicine. Not only did the Devils limit the Panthers’ ability to create, but they were physical and played villain by getting under the skin of the Cats. As a result, New Jersey received five power plays, and well…
Special Teams
You’d be hard-pressed to find a better night on special teams in recent history.
The Devils put on an absolute masterclass, scoring three goals on five power play chances, while killing off all five man advantages for the Panthers.
New Jersey’s special teams has done a complete 180 from last season. They’re dangerous while a man up, yet, remain dangerous while a man down.
That has a lot to do with New Jersey turning Bratt and Jack into complete players and getting them out on the ice during the penalty kill as well.
The Devils made an absolute statement between Tuesday and Thursday. Florida’s seven-game win streak turned into a two-game losing streak at the hands of the Devils. And now, it’s onto Tampa Bay.
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