New Jersey Devils Top 5 Tic-Tac-Toe Passing Plays

The New Jersey Devils 2017-2018 roster is filled with excellent passers. The result has been quite a few picture-perfect passing plays.

Having gone over the New Jersey Devils five prettiest goals of the 2017-2018 season, it is now time to look at the Devils most elegant passing plays of the season. Often times, they are described as tic-tac-toe plays. Without further ado, here are the Devils’ five nicest passing plays.

Honorable Mentions

Taylor Hall to Patrick Maroon to Kyle Palmieri, game 70, 6th goal

In the 3rd-period of a blowout win versus the Golden Knights, the Devils executed this passing play to perfection. Taylor Hall put the puck down low to Patrick Maroon, whose immaculate pass across the top of the crease slid perfectly between the legs of Golden Knights defender Deryk Engelland. All Kyle Palmieri had to do was fire the puck at the empty net for the goal.

Will Butcher to Taylor Hall to Pavel Zacha to Brian Boyle to Will Butcher to Jesper Bratt to Taylor Hall, game 30, 2nd goal

Will Butcher taps the puck along for Taylor Hall, as the Devils prepare to enter the zone on the powerplay. Hall sends it along to Pavel Zacha, who takes advantage of a poorly-timed Kings line change to find an open Brian Boyle. The video picks up here as Boyle carries into the zone and drops the puck for Butcher, who immediately sends it across to Bratt. Bratt skates towards the net before sending a beautiful pass all the way across to Taylor Hall. Jonathan Quick stands no chance as Taylor Hall slams the puck into the empty net (watch the full play here).

Number Four

Taylor Hall to Adam Henrique to Taylor Hall to Will Butcher to Jesper Bratt to Adam Henrique to Will Butcher to Taylor Hall to Jesper Bratt, game 1, 3rd goal

Taylor Hall finds the loose puck in the corner and sends it back to the point to an open Adam Henrique. Henrique skates deeper into the zone, then drops the puck back to Taylor Hall. Hall sends it across to Will Butcher, who gives to Jesper Bratt. Bratt passes to Adam Henrique who touches the puck back to Will Butcher. Butcher fakes the shot and then sends the puck across to Taylor Hall who packages the puck all the way across to Jesper Bratt. Bratt has an open shooting lane and takes advantage by placing the puck perfectly into the far-side top corner for his first ever NHL goal.

Number Three

Kyle Palmieri to Taylor Hall to Pavel Zacha to Kyle Palmieri, game 50, 1st goal

Kyle Palmieri winds the puck around the boards and Taylor Hall picks up the puck with two Flyers converging on him. He blindly dishes the puck behind him and right onto the tape of Pavel Zacha, who finds Kyle Palmieri all alone streaking towards the net. Palmieri, one of the best snipers in the NHL, somehow squeezes the puck into the smallest of holes to put the Devils up 1-0.

Number Two

Adam Henrique to Jesper Bratt to Adam Henrique to Will Butcher to Taylor Hall to Jesper Bratt, game 10, 4th goal

Adam Henrique carries into the zone on the powerplay and slides the puck to Jesper Bratt. Bratt wiggles around to avoid several Coyotes and then passes the puck to Adam Henrique, who taps it to Will Butcher. Butcher puts the puck across to Taylor Hall, who fires the puck across to Jesper Bratt. Bratt blasts a one-timer top-shelf and the Devils grab a 4-3 lead late in the 3rd-period.

Number One

Blake Coleman to Travis Zajac to Stefan Noesen to Blake Coleman, game 51, 2nd goal

Stefan Noesen knocks the puck away from Trevor Daley with a masterful backcheck, and crashes hard into the boards for the puck, blocking the clearing attempt with his body. Blake Coleman taps the puck to Zajac who passes to Noesen. Noesen gives the puck back to Coleman who fires home the puck, completing a beautiful tic-tac-toe goal (watch the full play here).