New Jersey Devils: Top 5 Goals This Season
The Devils have scored 229 goals so far this season (3.01 goals per game), 14th most in the NHL.
That may not seem all that impressive, but considering how few goals the Devils have scored in recent seasons, it certainly feels like a ton. Over the five previous seasons, the Devils averaged just 2.28 goals-per-game and never placed better than 4th-to-last in the season-end goals-for rankings.
Needless to say, the more shots, goals, and pretty passes you generate, the more chances you will have to score a highlight-reel goal. Thus, the Devils have had their fair share of spectacular goals this season. Here are the Devils’ five prettiest goals
Honorable Mentions
Drew Stafford, game 44, 1st goal
During the 1st period of the 44th game of the season, Drew Stafford managed to get behind the Capitals’ defense, shield off ex-Devil Devante Smith-Pelly, and elevate a backhand shot past Braden Holtby to give the Devils the 1-0 lead. More from that game later on.
Taylor Hall, game 55, 2nd goal
In the 2nd period of game 55, Nico Hischier read Brad Marchand’s neutral zone pass all the way and fed the puck over to Taylor Hall, who danced around Marchand to create a wide-open shooting lane and roofed one past Bruins goaltender Anton Khudobin (watch the play here).
Number 5
Jesper Bratt, game 9, shootout goal
After the Devils had blown a two-goal lead with 1:20 left in the 3rd period, Jesper Bratt almost made the stress of a late collapse worth it with this sweet dangle on Senators goalie Mike Condon. Condon was so badly fooled that Bratt had 24-square-feet of emptiness to slide the puck into.
Number 4
Taylor Hall, game 44, 4th goal
After the Devils blew a lead with four minutes remaining in the third frame, Taylor Hall saved fans from a heartbreaking loss to a division rival with a spectacular play in overtime. Hall stayed in stride as he slickly poked the puck past Capitals forward Evgeny Kuznetsov with just one hand and used his blazing speed to create a breakaway chance. Hall lifted one past Capitals netminder Braden Holtby to win it in overtime.
Number 3
Blake Coleman, game 74, 2nd goal
Blake Coleman snuck past the Pittsburgh Penguins defense and received a pass from Drew Stafford. Though Coleman does not possess the lights-out speed necessary to turn the play into a breakaway, Coleman does have brute strength, and he used it to shield Penguins forward Derrick Brassard off the puck and roof the puck past Penguins goaltender Matt Murray. With one hand on his stick.
Number 2
Taylor Hall, game 30, 3rd goal
In what would end up being a 5-1 blowout win for the Devils, the forechecking Taylor Hall ripped the puck out of Kings defender Jake Muzzin’s hands and snuggled the puck through the legs of Kings netminder Jonathan Quick. In a span of literally three seconds, the Kings went from controlling the puck safely in the defensive zone to helplessly watching the puck hit the back of their net, all due to the skill and strength of Taylor Hall.
Number 1
Brian Boyle, game 22, 2nd goal
Could there be any other goal in this spot? For starters, this was one of Boyle’s first games back after fighting cancer for months. Furthermore, the night was Hockey Fights Cancer Night at the Rock. The play begins with Will Butcher slithering through the entirety of the Canucks penalty-killing unit. Butcher then slides the puck to a wide-open Brian Boyle. Boyle elevates the puck home to score one of the most emotional goals of the entire season, for any team.
Next: New Jersey Devils: Will John Tavares join the Devils?
It’s been a special season for the New Jersey Devils as they enter the stretch-run of the playoff race. Hopefully, they can finish the season with a playoff berth. Let’s go Devils!