New Jersey Devils Struck by Lightning
The New Jersey Devils remain win-less after blowing a lead in their 3-2 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning.
First of all, thank you MSG Network for putting a Knicks preseason basketball game on in favor of the Devils game and making fans watch the game in standard definition on MSG Plus 2. No respect. Only the second game of the year and the Devils are already getting screwed by their TV network.
Now to the game. The Devils came out flying with two goals within the first 5 minutes in Tampa Saturday night. They failed to get another goal for the remainder of the game and the Lightning scored three unanswered to spoil New Jersey’s road trip to Florida.
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Sound familiar? This was one of the Devils’ recipes for losing last season too: get out to an early lead, then sit back the rest of the game and let the other team attack. Their two goals early were shaky one’s given up by Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevsky, but goals nonetheless. Good things happen when you get the puck to the net. But after that 5 minute surge to start the game, it became the Cory Schneider show again. He contained the Lightning as much as he could, making 31 saves, but they were just too much for the Devils to handle.
The positives? Kye Palmieri and Travis Zajac both got their first goals of the year. P.A. Parenteau is already proving to be a great value pickup from the waiver wire with two points in two games. So is Vern Fiddler, who saved a goal down in the crease and was strong on the penalty kill and in the faceoff circle all game. Besides that, it was an ugly game where the Devils looked outmatched. And they were, but I can’t say I’m surprised. Tampa Bay is a really good team, one that many experts picked to go to the Stanley Cup this year. Without Cory Schneider in net for the Devils, that game might get out of hand.
It was just a sloppy game for New Jersey. The power play still didn’t look crisp, the Devils are still going with the dump and chase method, but it isn’t working. Slow it down and get something set up. Certain lines don’t seem to be clicking yet either. Taylor Hall and Travis Zajac didn’t pair well together, and I think they should swap Zajac back with Adam Henrique on the top line. Oh, and Ben Lovejoy has looked awful so far. There is work to be done.
Yes, two of the Devils goals were overturned. That’s just unlucky, and it’s crazy how much challenges factor into hockey now, but it is what it is. The Devils were not the better team on the ice, and that’s why they lost. They didn’t score in the last 55 minutes of the game, and that is not going to cut it. It’s still very early in the season though. The Devils just played two of the better teams in the league on the road, and at least got one point out of it. They are hanging in, which is a good sign on things to come. Now, if they can get some of these lines gelling and work out the kinks on the power play, the goals will come…hopefully.
Side note: seriously, why isn’t Reid Boucher playing? Miles Wood looked like a rookie taking a penalty and freezing up with the pick on his stick. I’d like to see Boucher in the line-up instead of him for the home opener this week. Let’s see if John Hynes agrees.
Next: Devils 2016-17 Season Expectations
Next stop: home opener against Anaheim Tuesday night.