The New Jersey Devils snapped a six-game losing streak Tuesday night in a convincing performance at the Barclays Center, beating the Islanders 4-1. There are some huge positives to take out of this win, which will hopefully get the club back on track.
Countless times throughout an 82-game season does a final score not tell the story of what happened during those 60 minutes. This was not the case as the New Jersey Devils dominated the Islanders, never giving them a chance to settle down and fight back.
New Jersey had some stand out individual performances. We had a chance to see Damon Severson play with some swagger, netting two slap shot goals in the second period. This could be a turning point for him offensively as he’s trying to complete his game on both ends. Severson should have a lot of confidence going forward. It should be fun watching him down the stretch.
As I watched Andy Greene drop the gloves with Brock Nelson, I knew it was a special occasion. That was the captain’s first fight in his NHL career, over 700 games in the making. Greene wanted to send a message to his team, and the Devils came out with a fire under them in the second period, outscoring the Isles 3-0.
Devils backup goaltender Keith Kinkaid had a great performance collecting 25 saves on 26 shots. Kinkaid was perfect besides giving up an early breakaway goal, but no one is holding him accountable for that. Although it was not the busiest night in net, he made key saves when he had to and played to win.
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When you look at the recent stats, you’ll find New Jersey’s power play towards the top. However, I haven’t been satisfied with it as of late. I see slow movement, low energy, and not enough shots. I felt like it was a lot better in Brooklyn, going 1/3 with a Kyle Palmieri goal. The biggest difference I saw was intensity, which is vital to a successful PP.
New Jersey had 42 shots, while New York had 26. This is something you love to see, creating chances while limiting your opponent. The Devils only took two minor penalties, which is a nice improvement from the usual ten they take a game.
Overall, the Devils had some good habits from this game and should be proud of their performance. New Jersey will look to make it a two game winning streak Thursday night vs Washington.