Sunday night, the New Jersey Devils dropped their first preseason game of the season 4-2 to the New York Islanders. After leading 1-0 and 2-1 they did not score again. The Devils fall to 0-1-0 in the preseason and face the Canadiens in Montreal on Tuesday
Recap
Period One
The first period was a good one for the Devils as they got off to a quick start. An early power play led to a nasty wrist shot goal by Nico Hischier off a no-look pass from Jesper Bratt. The Devils would get a few other chances, and Jacob Markstrom shined with a couple brilliant saves. However, things would stay 1-0 after one.
Period Two
The Devils came out flying in period number two including a super long shift in the offensive zone. However, that shift didn’t garner the team any momentum as Anders Lee would go the way and snipe a shot by the glove hand of Markstrom. Just 30 seconds later Hischier would send Bratt on a partial break and he would put his patented five-hole snipe through the wickets of Islanders netminder Marcus Hogberg.
Just as the Devils thought they would get out of another period with a one-goal lead, Islanders rookie Maxim Tsyplakov laid a beautiful pass on the tape of Julian Gauthier who potted the biscuit into an open net. It would be 2-2 after two.
Period Three
Nico Daws came in for the Devils to begin the third period and he let up an early goal to Cam Thiesing who somehow snuck the puck by Daws’ glove short side. Jacob Markström, before being replaced by Daws, as scheduled, stopped 17 of the 19 shots he faced.
The Islanders controlled a majority of play in the third period and would score an empty net goal to seal the game in the closing seconds. The Devils would fall 4-2.
Game Notes
The Fourth Line
The Devils’ presumed fourth line for this upcoming season of Paul Cotter, Curtis Lazar, and Nathan Bastian was lights out in their first game action together. While they failed to collect a goal the trio collected a 75.00 Corsi-for percentage (CF%) and 65.61 expected goals percentage (xG%). They looked really tough to play against which is what you want from any fourth line.
Players in Recovery
There are a few Devils that have been practicing in full, but got the day off yesterday after recovering from an off-season injury. Those players are Jack Hughes, TImo Meier, and Simon Nemec. Head coach Sheldon Keefe said that the trio will all get into pre-season games at some point but the team is going to take it easy with all three.
As the week goes on expect a lineup closer and closer to their opening day one before the team leaves for Prague this Saturday.
What’s Next?
The Devils play their second preseason game Tuesday night against the Montreal Canadiens. The puck drop is set for 7:00 pm ET in Montreal.