Pucks and Pitchforks
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Tough Weekend for New Jersey Devils Ends With Two Losses

By Vincent Parise

NEWARK, NJ - NOVEMBER 17: Pavel Zacha #37 of the New Jersey Devils is congratulated as he returns to the bench after scoring a first period goal against the Detroit Red Wings at the Prudential Center on November 17, 2018 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Andy Marlin/NHLI via Getty Images)
NEWARK, NJ - NOVEMBER 17: Pavel Zacha #37 of the New Jersey Devils is congratulated as he returns to the bench after scoring a first period goal against the Detroit Red Wings at the Prudential Center on November 17, 2018 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Andy Marlin/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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The New Jersey Devils were coming off a stretch that saw them win a couple of games in a row and move into the weekend with some momentum. That comes to an end because the team earned only one out of a possible four points in a back to back against the Detroit Red Wings and Carolina Hurricanes.

This weekend that saw the second set of back to backs of the season. The Devils played a game at home against the Detroit Red Wings, which ended in a 3-2 OT loss. Then the next day, it was a 2-1 regulation loss to the Hurricanes on the road.

There were positives and of course negatives to the way the weekend went. The negatives are largely based on results. The one point earned out of four isn’t acceptable if you want to make the playoffs. The execution on offense was not there. The team defended well and had good goaltending.

Taylor Hall, unlike his usual self, did not register a point this weekend. He is heavily relied upon for offense as the teams top line drives the team where it wants to go. Of course, depth scoring is needed, but you need your best players to be your best players as well. Hall has 19 points in 18 games played, which is excellent. It was just an off weekend for the winger.

Hall’s lack of offense could also be a direct result of the injury to top center Nico Hischier. He has missed the last four Devils games and the first four he has missed in his NHL career. Nico provides a real good two way game for his natural line mates in Hall and Kyle Palmieri.

That is not a slight on Devils forward Travis Zajac, however. Hall had a four point game in his first game with Zajac on the teams top line, but there is also the risk of Hall being out there for defensive assignments over offensive assignments which can take away some of his opportunities. Zajac has played very well so far this season, and has chipped in more offense than we expected. When Nico comes back it should provide decent depth at the position.

It wasn’t all bad this weekend. The team defended quite well. They only gave up two goals in regulation in both games. Keith Kinkaid started the Saturday game in Newark versus the Detroit Red Wings (a 3-2 OT loss) while Cory Schneider started the road contest in Raleigh (a 2-1 loss). The team defense in front of both of them was good enough to win hockey games.

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Pavel Zacha started this season going weeks without a point. He was so inept offensively, that the team sent him down to the AHL and it seemed to work. Against the Red Wings on Saturday, he FINALLY got off the skid and scored his first goal of the season. Then against the Hurricanes the very next night, he scored his second goal of the season. This goal came minutes after the Devils gave up two goals in the opening minute and the final would end there. 2-1 for the Hurricanes.

Zacha, in spite of his offensive struggles, has been very good defensively this season so far. The Devils allow 2.85 goals per game with him in the lineup, and are over four goals per game when he is not. He clearly makes a defensive impact. If he can keep it rolling offensively, he can become one of the key pieces to this team.

The Devils have put Sami Vatanen on injured reserve, and with that has come opportunities for other guys to step up and have some more ice time. The way Damon Severson has played so far this season has been a very welcoming sight. If it were not for one bad opening minute in Carolina, the defense has been stellar over the last little stretch. They need this to continue and if they find their offense again they could still be a dangerous team.

dark. Next. Devils Get Gritty!

The New Jersey Devils will look to get back in the win column one more time before American Thanksgiving, as they play host to the Montreal Canadiens at the Prudential Center on Wednesday, November 21st.

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