Match Summary
After last night’s game, all I could do was sigh. Yes, I was sighing because of the Devils’ underwhelming performance, but also because it was the final game of the season. As the MSG broadcast team mentioned repeatedly, it was an extremely tough season for fans and players alike.
It was a typical loss against the Philadelphia Flyers last night, the offense got snakebitten and special teams cost New Jersey the game. The 4-2 loss was the epitome of the season. The Devils will go into the offseason with a bitter taste in their mouths.
First Period
It was looking like the Devils weren’t going to throw away the season finale when they quickly scored two goals to open the game. The tallies came from Pavel Zacha and Janne Kuokkanen, two young forwards who have had solid seasons. They were getting some decent pressure, but they slowed down, letting the Flyers answer back with a Joel Farabee goal. The Devils went into the intermission with a 2-1 lead.
Second Period
In the second frame, New Jersey gradually lost their edge, allowing a Sean Couturier goal and not answering back. The Devils were sloppy too, taking two penalties. It was disheartening to watch the Devils lose all their momentum and control over the game. At this point, it was the Flyers’ game to lose, and they obviously didn’t fail to capitalize.
Third Period
And just like that, it all fell apart in the third. The Flyers took the lead and then some with a James Van Riemsdyk goal and another Joel Farabee tally. The Devils had a pair of powerplay opportunities, but like most other chances they’ve gotten this season, they let them slip away. With under half of the period left to play, a comeback was possible, but it was clear that this game, along with New Jersey’s season, was over.
Results
Last night’s finale was a disappointment, to say the least, but we must look at this season as a whole. Let’s be honest, no one expected this team to make the playoffs, this team was in a rebuilding phase. Though as fans it’s tough to endure another losing season, the Devils made undeniable progress. Their young guys flourished, a new captain has been crowned, and they were more competitive as a whole.
Yes, it’s been a rough season, but it’s over now, and the offseason is coming. The Devils will finish with a record of 19-30-7, seventh place in the East Division.
Keys to the Game
Sloppiness on Special Teams, Again
If you want to know how the Devils’ special teams did this season, just look to this game as an example. They played with fire on the penalty kill, taking four penalties and looking lost on the kill. New Jersey’s penalty kill will finish the season with an atrocious 70.8% kill rate, by far the worst in the league.
On the powerplay, the Flyers controlled their own zone and shut down every Devils chance. A frustrating theme of this season was that, on the powerplay, good opportunities would arise, but the Devils would just pass the puck away. This is something we saw a lot of in last night’s game. Their PP will finish with a terrible 14.4% efficiency rate, a dismal 28th place in the league.
Things have to change next season, I don’t care if it’s simply a change in strategy or a change in coaching, special teams can’t be as bad as they were this season.
Busy Offseason Ahead
On the bright side, the Devils are in a highly favorable position heading into the offseason. As of now, the Devils are about $13,000,000 under the cap floor, meaning they have some money to deal out. They also probably have the fourth-best draft lottery odds and will once again have a high draft pick. New Jersey is bound to bring in a ton of high-potential prospects and NHL-caliber players, Devils Army Network will be sure to bring you all the latest news along the way.