Pucks and Pitchforks
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New Jersey Devils Top Line Is One of the Best in the NHL

By Sean Jackson

LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 6: Damon Severson #28, Taylor Hall #9, Kyle Palmieri #21 and Nico Hischier #13 of the New Jersey Devils celebrate Palmieri's second-period goal during the game against the Los Angeles Kings at STAPLES Center on December 6, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NHLI via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 6: Damon Severson #28, Taylor Hall #9, Kyle Palmieri #21 and Nico Hischier #13 of the New Jersey Devils celebrate Palmieri's second-period goal during the game against the Los Angeles Kings at STAPLES Center on December 6, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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Whenever the conversation of the best line in the NHL comes up, that of the Colorado Avalanche and Boston Bruins always seem to come up.  However, the top line of the New Jersey Devils never seems to be mentioned in this discussion.

As a whole, the New Jersey Devils have a combined 265 points this season.  93 of those have come from guys named Taylor Hall, Nico Hischier, or Kyle Palmieri.  That’s 35% of the team’s scoring coming from one line. Take into account the fact that both Hall and Hischier have missed some time, and it’s pretty apparent; this line is the engine of the Devils.

Never was this on display more than last Friday night against the Ottawa Senators, when the trio accounted for nine points and four goals in a 5-2 win.  This game also featured one of the craziest plays in recent Devils memory, which Nick Villano wrote about in depth here.

Plays like this have provided bright spots in what has been a disastrous season.  Taylor Hall is having another outstanding season and is on pace for about the same amount of points as he had in his 2017-18 MVP campaign.

Kyle Palmieri is producing at over a half-goal-per-game pace, and will likely smash his career high of 30 goals.

Nico Hischier, still just 19 years old, is playing a spectacular 200 foot game.  The teenager is playing against opponents’ top lines night in and night out and is thriving.  I think that he is too unselfish at times, and if he shot the puck more, a 25-30 goal season this year is definitely in the realm of possibility.

Advanced statistics also support the claim that this line is among the league’s elite.  According to Natural Stat Trick, when playing together, the line has a stellar 5v5 HDCF% (high danger chances for vs. against) of 64.42, as opposed to the team’s 52.45% without them.  The Hall-Hischier-Palmieri line’s Corsi for % is at 53.53%, as opposed to 48.77% without them. The Devils are simply a much better team with these three on the ice.

It is not just at even strength where they carry the Devils scoring, but on the man advantage as well.  New Jersey has 20 power play goals on the season. 6 of them have come from Palmieri, 2 from Hischier, and 1 from Hall.  The reigning MVP also has 12 power play points, meaning he contributed on 60% of all power play goals.

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Beyond the numbers, the power play game plan is basically give the puck to Taylor Hall and get out of the way.  If he is not single-handedly gaining the zone, everyone looks lost and the unit usually can’t get set up.

There are few other lines in the league that produce this much of a team’s total offense.  If Taylor Hall signs an extension, this can be one of the NHL’s most dangerous for years. They are 27, 19, and 27 years old, respectively.

The Devils have themselves in a giant hole, as they are currently 11 points out of a playoff position.  If New Jersey is to pull off a miracle and get back into a fight for the playoffs, the top line of Hall, Hischier, and Palmieri will have to continue to lead the way.

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