The new NHL season may be young, but whatever optimism New Jersey Devils’ fans had heading into the season appears to be fading away. First the team dropped its first game 5-2 to their divisional rivals the Philadelphia Flyers, who were expected to be among the league’s worst teams this season. Next the team dropped its home opener by an identical score to the Detroit Red Wings.
Let’s take a look at some specific things that have gone wrong for the team. Though, believe it or not, it all has not been bad.
Shot Totals and Early Leads
One thing that has gone right for the team is their shot totals, as the Devils outshot their opponents by over ten shots in each game. New Jersey outshot Philadelphia 37-25 and Detroit 39-22.
There has yet to be a single period thus season where New Jersey has been outshot. Further, they outshot Detroit 2-to-1 in each of the last two periods of Saturday’s loss. Basically, the Devils have not been finishing their chances off and the NHL standings don’t give you credit for trying.
In both losses, New Jersey struck first. Those early 1-0 leads were the only time they would have a lead in either game. Saturday was the only time they went to the locker room with any lead, as Dougie Hamilton’s first goal of the season was the lone goal in Saturday’s opening twenty minutes.
Powerless Power Plays
Speaking of opening goals, Alexander Holtz opened scoring with the Devils’ first goal of the season. It was his first of his NHL career, as well, during a first period power play in Philadelphia. Unfortunately for New Jersey, the man advantage has been anything but an advantage since then. New Jersey has gone 0-for-5 ever since.
Normally that wouldn’t inspire panic through only two games. Sadly, for New Jersey, it continues a pattern of futility on the power play going back to last season. Since the beginning of last season, the Devils sit at 29th in the NHL on power play percentage at only a 15.6% success rate.
Former assistant coach Mark Reechi was the architect of the last season’s power play, but he was let go in the off season. While Reechi’s firing lead Devils’ fans to believe New Jersey would improve on the power play under a new look coaching staff, but still headed by Lindy Ruff, early returns haven’t been promising.
Lackluster Goaltending
This is one that can be filed under the “bad luck” department, at least in regards to last season. With Mackenzie Blackwood and Jonathan Bernier each injured last season, the Devils turned to Jon Gillies in true desperation. Gillies started last season in the ECHL. He was the workhorse goaltender of a Devils team that sued eight different goaltenders.
Benier is still injured, but Blackwood was advertised as good to go. In his one start against Philadelphia he finished with a 0.830 save percentage after allowing four goals on 24 shots. Offseason acquisition, Vitek Vanecek, had an even worse 0.730 save percentage after allowing five goals on 17 shots.
It could possibly just be a case of one bad start in the early season with his new team. Then again, Vanecek was brought in to be a stabilizing, if unspectacular, net presence after last season’s carousel of subpar goaltending.
Coaching Questions
Lindy Ruff’s status seemed to be up in the air after last season. General manager Tom Fitzgerald decided to run it back with Ruff, but a new coaching staff beneath him. That includes potential replaced Andrew Brunette fresh from a successful season with the Florida Panthers. It took all but two games for fans to grow impatient of their third year head coach and “boo” him, something ruff did take notice to and provided a rather diplomatic response.
Not to mention, Ruff has made some questionable coaching decisions, with Devils beat reporter Ryan Novozinsky specifically questioning why Yegor Sharangovich and Alex Holtz were demoted to fourth-line duties (in addition to his goal, Holtz has six shots through two games). Considering captain Nico Hischier was in Saturday’s lineup after returning from injury, it should have been a full, consistent lineup. The season’s barely a week old, but Ruff should already be in the hot seat.
Final Thoughts
The season is still very young. Devils’ fans hope their team turns the season around and at least shows some improvement, even just marginal improvement, as their rebuild continues. If not, well then it’s never too early to wonder about Connor Bernard now, is it?