It’s the most wonderful time of year! Before Santa slides down those chimneys, we have one more New Jersey Devils’ game as the team welcomes the Detroit Red Wings to the friendly confines of Prudential Center. Before the puck drops, let’s take a look at the calendar and point out that its December 23rd. You know what that means, it’s Festivus!
For those potentially uncultured readers of ours who don’t know what Festivus is, it’s a holiday created by Frank Costanza is the mega-smash hit cultural keystone television show “Seinfeld.” The holiday is celebrated the day before Christmas Eve with a pole (it requires very little decoration) while sitting around the table and “airing your grievances,” with your friends, family, and relatives.
Why stop there? Our favorite hockey team, and the NHL as a whole, has some grievances we want them to hear. In the immortal words of Jerry Stiller, “I got a lot of problems with you people!”
Jesper Bratt’s Overtime Decisions From The Philadelphia Game
When the Devils fell to the Philadelphia Flyers in overtime on Tuesday, a lot of attention was given to the terrible offensive zone turnover by Jack Hughes. That directly led to the Owen Tippett game winner. Just before that, we saw a speedy Jesper Bratt enter Philadelphia’s zone, but instead of taking the clear shot, he “waited for reinforcements,” as Bill Spaulding put it.
That extra time allowed Philly defenders to catch up to Bratt who missed his opportunity. We can’t help but what think of what might have been if he took his shot and ended the game then and there.
Vitek Vanecek’s Rebound Control
Vitek Vanecek is having a hard time following up his breakout season from last year. One of the biggest culprits of Vanecek’s declining returns on the ice is his lack of rebound control. Even if he played an otherwise perfect game against the Boson Bruins last week, the one goal he did let in was the perfect example of his problems this season.
Please, let’s try to limit those second chance shots, shall we?
Minimal Home Ice Advantage
The Devils were supposed to be Stanley Cup contenders, yet their 6-7-2 home record (entering play on Thursday) says otherwise. A big part of last year’s success was their play away from Prudential Center, but the team still went 24-13-4 on home ice. An under .500 record for this team at home is nothing short of unacceptable.
Connor Clifton
Jersey’s own signed with the Buffalo Sabres in free agency last summer. Every game he plays against the Devils you hear the fun facts about how he’s a hometown kid. It was a fun story, until he attacked the captain. His hit on Nico Hischier led to a two game suspension, and a lengthy injury absence for Hischier.
We can’t blame that hit for all the problems the team has had this season, but losing Hischier for a month did play a huge part in the teams beyond subpar record for that time period. If Clifton didn’t make that hit, Hischier would have presumably stayed healthy. With a healthy Hischier, the team wins more games in November, and could better withstand Jack Hughes concurrent five game absence.
It’s those November losses that keep the team playing catch up. Joke’s on Clifton though because he has to live in the frozen tundra known as Buffalo.
How Long The Holiday Break Is
Did you know the NHL holiday break includes December 26th? That means we have to wait an extra day for hockey to get back. Yes, having off the 24th and 25th is completely understandable. Yes, we know our friends north of the border celebrate the 26th as “Boxing Day” (a holiday which features no boxing), so most of the country has off (must be nice).
But this is ’Murica! Does that contradict my last point? Yes, but I’m continuing with this rant anyway. If I have to roll out of my bed and rise from my food coma of ham and sugar cookies to go to work on Tuesday so should the NHL!
ESPN+ Only Games
I was looking forward to watching he Devils take on the Edmonton Oilers last Thursday. That is, until I realized it was an ESPN+ only game. Look, over the years I’ve given enough money to the Disney Corporation. I’m not going to give the mouse any more money that he’s already taking. End the blackouts and let MSG run a broadcast as well.