The Devils have an issue starting games on time and, as a direct result, have an issue winning games.
The season is only three games old but there are some concerning trends starting for the Devils. Most concerning of which is the way they are starting games. The Devils have been clearly out played in the first period of each game so far this season and have fallen behind in each game. While the first three games do not make or break a season, the points in October count just as much as the games in March and April do.
The Devils opened the season at home against he Red Wings and did not look ready for the puck to drop at 7:30pm. The Devils were out shot 14-6 in the first period and did not really wake up until Jack Hughes took over the game late in the second period by scoring two beautiful goals. The Devils rode that momentum swing to a 4-3 win to open the year. Coming out slow in a game will happen several times throughout the year so I wasn’t too concerned after this one, especially since the Devils recovered and pulled out the victory. However, it was the start of a trend that is yet to end…
In game two, the Devils hosted Arizona and still didn’t get their skates tied in time for the opening puck drop. The Coyotes out shot the Devils 14-8 in the first period and out scored the Devils 2-0 in the game’s first 25 minutes. Coming out flat in back to back home games against inferior rosters is not a good sign for a team that is supposed to be a cup contender. The Devils were able to battle back and take the lead in the second period, but allowed Arizona to take the game to overtime. The Devils would eventually lose in the shootout because of course the Devils lost in a shootout, that’s what always happens. The game never should have gotten that far though. The Devils had the speed and skill to beat Arizona in regulation, we saw it in the second half of the second period and the first half of the third period. The Devils just seemingly couldn’t put it all together for a full 60 minutes against either Detroit or Arizona.
Game three of the year was more of the same for New Jersey. The Panthers out shot the Devils 11-8 in the first period and the Panthers outscored the Devils 2-0 in the first period. Sergei Bobrovsky was very sharp, in the second period especially, but the Devils didn’t help themselves at all with a lethargic start and four penalties. Through the first two periods, the Devils looked incredibly sloppy and put very little sustained pressure on Bobrovsky. The Devils woke up and put a ton of pressure on the Panthers late in the game and crawled their way back into it with three goals in the third period. Sadly, it was not enough to overcome the god awful start and the Devils ended up earning zero points. This game is a perfect case study on how slow starts will kill you. If you spot the other team a few goals to open every game, you aren’t going to have much success in the NHL. The Devils are learning that the hard way in the early going of this young season. Only three points in three home games is unacceptable for a team with legitimate Stanley Cup aspirations.
Like I said earlier, three games in October wont make or break this season for the Devils. However, these points all count just as much as the points in February, March, and April. Winning and losing these games matters. With three off days before the next game, the Devils have a chance to hopefully practice, maybe get a little extra rest, and hopefully come out with a fire lit under their asses on Friday Night on Long Island. There is never a bad time to start a winning streak and Friday night in Long Island seems like an ideal time for the Devils to get on the right track in the early going of this season.
The Morning Skate 