Pucks and Pitchforks
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New Jersey Devils: The Penalty Kill Is A Lone Bright Spot

By Vincent Parise

NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 09: New Jersey Devils Goalie Cory Schneider (35) reaches out his stick as New Jersey Devils Defenceman Connor Carrick (5) and New York Rangers Right Wing Jesper Fast (17) battle for the puck during the National Hockey League game between the New Jersey Devils and the New York Rangers on March 9, 2019 at Madison Square Garden in New York, NY. (Photo by Joshua Sarner/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 09: New Jersey Devils Goalie Cory Schneider (35) reaches out his stick as New Jersey Devils Defenceman Connor Carrick (5) and New York Rangers Right Wing Jesper Fast (17) battle for the puck during the National Hockey League game between the New Jersey Devils and the New York Rangers on March 9, 2019 at Madison Square Garden in New York, NY. (Photo by Joshua Sarner/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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The New Jersey Devils are having a terrible season. It is becoming very hard to watch sometimes, but there are things to be happy about and the PK is one.

Yeah, the New Jersey Devils lost their game at Madison Square Garden against the bitter rivals in the New York Rangers. Yeah, it was the first time they lost a game when leading after two periods in the John Hynes era. Also, the team is decimated by injuries and is basically at rock bottom after losing their sixth in a row.

There is one thing to be proud of, and that is the teams compete level. They really have no reason to win given the way the draft lottery works, but this team gives it’s all every game. With all the injuries, they just get outdone talent wise in most situations.

One area of proof is the penalty kill. It is one of the teams best attributes and really helps them stay in games. The Rangers went a solid 0/5 on the power play in the game. The Devils PK percentage of 83.8% ranks fourth in the NHL. This is a good sign going into next year. If it can keep it going into the next season they can hopefully use it along with an improved offense to win games.

The goaltending has been great lately as well. Cory Schneider and MacKenzie Blackwood are really coming along and as they say, the goaltenders have to be the best penalty killers. They are the last line of defense, so them playing well is pivotal to the PK. Schneider and Blackwood as the present and future so them playing well is very good for the New Jersey Devils.

Next. Time For Young Devils To Step Up. dark

They desperately need offense from their young guys and to get better on the blue line 5 on 5 and they will be in business with this penalty kill. The Devils next action comes on Tuesday night when they begin their western Canadian road trip in Calgary against the Flames.

With the end of the season looming, the franchise has it’s eyes set on the draft lottery and the offseason. The young guys that are currently there need to play well while the goaltenders remain hot, and hopefully the ping pong balls fall in their favor.

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