Pucks and Pitchforks
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New Jersey Devils: Hellish Road Trip Ends With Many Questions

By Tim Palladino

OTTAWA, ON - NOVEMBER 6: Craig Anderson #41 of the Ottawa Senators makes a stick save against Kyle Palmieri #21 of the New Jersey Devils at Canadian Tire Centre on November 6, 2018 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Andre Ringuette/NHLI via Getty Images)
OTTAWA, ON - NOVEMBER 6: Craig Anderson #41 of the Ottawa Senators makes a stick save against Kyle Palmieri #21 of the New Jersey Devils at Canadian Tire Centre on November 6, 2018 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Andre Ringuette/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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New Jersey Devils fans and players knew this was not going to be an easy road trip from the beginning. What started out in Tampa weeks ago turned into a horror seven games later.

When the Devils are not blowing two-goal leads, they are getting shut out. The saddest part is seeing the team down 3-2 and that quickly becoming 5-2 loses, like it did in Winnipeg on Sunday night.

What is causing the team to play so bad lately? Not sure anyone including the players know. They do know that even though it is only early November, things must change fast.

Despite winning big in Pittsburgh on the back of Brian Boyle‘s hat trick, the offense has been terrible. After his MVP season, Taylor Hall has not been the same. Even Kyle Palmieri has not looked like he did when the season started. Of course, the kid Nico Hischier also seems to be in a sophomores slump. Then, he left Sunday’s game with an injury. With no secondary scoring or special teams scoring, the goals have been hard to come too.

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You can’t put all the blame on the offense. On the other side of the puck, the defense has not played well. Nonstop penalties makes the defensive line tired of going out and killing penalties. Added pressure on Keith Kinkaid and Cory Schneider weakens them to forced more pressure. This leads to more goals being scored against them.

Two guys who have looks decent are Damon Severson and Mirco Muller. They’ve given some light to a line that needs help. At this time, while it is early, hopefully a trade might be in the works to get some help. Otherwise, the Devils will be looking to the kids in the minors. Hopefully someone will be ready to step up and help the team. If not, the team could be very busy come trade deadline time as buyers or sellers.

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