New Jersey Devils Defense Plays Worst Game Of Season

The New Jersey Devils defense put together its worst performance of the season, leaving Mackenzie Blackwood out to dry over a dozen times. If this is how this team plays, even Martin Brodeur couldn’t win games.

Wow, that was a terrible performance by the New Jersey Devils on Wednesday night. The team took on the highly skilled Dallas Stars, and they just didn’t come to play. Through 30 minutes, the team had just three shots on net while the Stars had over 20. Mackenzie Blackwood did his best to keep the team in the game, but it was never going to be enough. Even when the offense got going, the Devils just continued to let high-danger chances in on Blackwood.

The Stars had 14 high-danger chances against the Devils, scoring five goals in the process. Most of their chances came from within ten feet of the net. That’s not good at all.

This is completely on the defense. It all starts with Sami Vatanen. He’s the top guy on this defense, but he had his worst game in a Devils jersey. He constantly made the wrong decisions, while leaving his goalie high and dry.

There is one play in particular where Vatanen just had the worst decision making we’ve seen all season.

Look at what Vatanen does in that play. He skates away from the goalie as Miro Heiskanen skates towards Blackwood. He literally gave him an open lane, doing everything except put up finish line tape for him.

The other Devils defensemen didn’t have great games themselves. However, things really focused on the play of the Vatanen-Steve Santini line. It’s sad, because Santini has played well since slotting back into the lineup, but he couldn’t make up for Vatanen’s mistakes.

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The Stars were able to pepper Blackwood with 40 shots. That’s because the Devils could not get the puck out of the zone, and the Stars were able to tilt the ice. Every time the Devils were able to get the puck on their stick, they barely got it to the blue line. Many of the times the defense was tired and tried to send it short so they could change, but they should have taken the chance of icing the puck. It would allow them to reset, and they could win a faceoff and make a change then.

Obviously, the third period went much better than the first two, but the defense still allowed the game-winning goal.

On Heiskanen’s first goal, which gave the Stars a 2-1 lead, the defense completely forgot about him. Every one went towards the boards, leaving the teenage defenseman alone. He was able to make whatever move he wanted on Blackwood to give his team the lead.

Tyler Seguin‘s power play goal came because Andy Greene sent a clear attempt into the chest of John Klingberg. If he sends it a foot to the left or right, then that’s probably not a goal.

This loss is squarely on the defense. There’s no other way to say it. They need to watch the tape, and never let this happen again.