Sergei Brylin Ring of Honor night was great to see but the results from the game were not much to be desired. The Dallas Stars stormed into New Jersey and won in convincing fashion 6-2. 

The Devils had no answer for the Stars the first two periods and when they got on the scoreboard it was too late. The second of a back to back set continues to plague the Devils, as they are now 1-8-1 in those second games. The margin for error is small as the Devils try to keep pace in the playoff fight. 

Game Recap

First Period

What a great show these two teams displayed in the first period. Both offenses got after it and generated quality chances on the goaltenders. However, it was the Stars who punched home the first goal of the game. After stellar puck movement, Joe Pavelski broke the ice on the power play. He was left alone right in the slot and snapped a one timed shot past Nico Daws for the goal. This would be the lone goal of the period and the Devils would allow the first goal once again and were down 1-0. 

The first period was a very even period when it was played at five-on-five. Each team had 24 shot attempts and the shot differential was 14-12 in favor of the Devils. Both teams had a great period trading chances, but the Stars held the edge in expected goals 1.19-1.1. 

Second Period 

The bleeding got worse in the second period, as the Stars poured three goals on the Devils. Special teams continued to be a strength for the Stars, as the goal by Roope Hintz came shorthanded. A pass off the boards by Ryan Suter found Hintz who drove hard to the net for the nifty goal.

The teams would then trade more chances but the Stars capitalized at the end of the period. Tyler Seguin recovered his own rebound and found a wide open Matt Duchene to extend the lead further. Minutes later Hintz grabbed his second of the period as he snapped a wrist shot to make it 4-0. This is how the period would end and the Devils would be down big heading into the third period. 

A little over 13 minutes of the period was played at five-on-five. Dallas took it to the Devils this period, as they controlled the shot attempts 57.58% of the period. Dallas held the edge in scoring chances as well as shots on goal. However, the Devils did control the expected goals share (1.04-0.73). Failing to capitalize on their chances plagued the Devils this period. 

Third Period

Like the previous two periods, the third started off with a Stars goal. After a turnover in the neutral zone, Craig Smith ripped a shot from the top of the faceoff circle to extend the lead. Five minutes later Jason Robertson planted the dagger but the Devils finally responded. A cross ice pass by Timo Meier found Jesper Bratt who ripped a shot five hole on Scott Wedgewood. Tyler Toffoli would score a goal with a minute left in the game and when the horn sounded, the Devils would lose 6-2. 

Wrap Up

The second game of a back-to-back continues to plague the team. Missed opportunities and points left on the table for the Devils. The Stars marched in and crushed the Devils. Dallas had four different goal scorers and Scott Wedgewood secured the victory against his former team. Jesper Bratt scored for the Devils, as well as Tyler Toffoli. 

Game Notes

• One area that the Devils got burned on was the high-danger area of the ice. Dallas generated 11 shots on goal from the area and scored five of their six goals from the area. Never ideal seeing a team shoot nearly 50% from the area and Daws finished the game with a .545 save percentage in the area. 

• The scoreboard reflects otherwise but the Devils had their chances this game. In all situations they generated 3.23 expected goals but managed to only score two. Scott Wedgewood was good in net, finishing with 1.23 goals saved above expected. It was a combination of good goaltending by Wedgewood but also inability to capitalize offensively. 

What’s Next

The Devils take the ice Monday night as they host the Golden Knights.