From the moment the puck dropped, this game was all Dallas Stars. The Devils had no answers early on defensively and could not get any timely saves. After losing a close game against the Los Angeles Kings, they got beat up on the scoreboard tonight against Dallas. Despite having 37 shots on goal, the Devils could not solve Braden Holtby.
Game Summary
Things got off to a rough start early. Fourteen seconds in and on the first shot on goal, Jason Robertson finds Joe Pavelski wide open in the slot. Despite a nice flurry of chances on goaltender Holtby, it was the Stars who took charge. A good forechecking effort by the Stars led to the second goal where Joel Kiviranta found Jacob Peterson in the slot. He roofed a backhand shot to make it 2-0. The bleeding did not stop in the first period as Miro Heiskanen fired a wrist shot with purpose and Joe Pavelski tipped it in from the slot. Three goals coming from high-danger areas of the ice.
New period, same result. However, this time it was Jon Gillies in net. The Dallas Stars pushed the pace and this time its fifteen seconds in. Joe Pavelski slides the puck over to Roope Hintz, who made a nice toe-drag move and sniped one top shelf to make it 4-0. More than halfway through the period, the Devils big guns got to work on the power play (PP). Jack Hughes skates right down the middle and slides it over to Jesper Bratt. It’s the life the Devils needed.
The third period was a much quieter one. Despite having 16 shots on goal, the Devils could not solve Holtby. Dallas held on and sealed the game for good with an empty net goal with over two minutes remaining. The horn would sound and the game would end by a final score of 5-1.
Game Notes
- Joe Pavelski had a phenomenal game. He scored two goals and added two assists to help cap off a four-point night. A milestone type of night for him as he tied Patrick Kane for the most goals scored among active American born players with 413.
- Not a lot was going right for the Devils from a production stand point. But one line did stand out. According to Natural Stat Trick, the line of Jimmy Vesey, Dawson Mercer, and Yegor Sharangovich had the best Corsi-for % (CF%) of any Devils’ line (85.71). The shot attempts were 6-1. They really generated chances and used there speed to do so. The next best line in terms of possession that spent the most ice time together was Janne Kuokkanen, Michael McLeod, and Nathan Bastian. An even CF% at 50.00.
- Before the game, starting goalie Mackenzie Blackwood hit the injured reserve. That leaves the Devils with Akira Schmid and Jon Gillies. Schmid got pulled after the first period as he let in three goals on seven shots. Gillies made out better. After allowing the first shot in, he settled into the game. Safe to say, the Devils will need better play in net going forward.
The Devils will be back in action Thursday evening against the Tampa Bay Lightning at 7:00PM ET.