The New Jersey Devils need a win in the worst way. Their last game ended in heartbreak so it would be nice if they came out and earned a big win.
The New Jersey Devils were defeated in heartbreaking fashion against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Friday night. They had a strong game in regulation before they lost the game because of an own goal. Damon Severson tried to clear the puck away from the goal and it ended up beating Mackenzie Blackwood and being credited as a William Nylander game-winning goal. The team had some impressive performances from Nico Hischier, Nikita Gusev, Jesper Bratt, and Kyle Palmieri but it was all for not.
They need to put that behind them as they go north of the border to play the Ottawa Senators. They need to put that dreadful ending behind them and move forward. It would be amazing to see Damon Severson really come out and redeem himself. It would be nice to see one of those cases where he comes out and impacts the game from the beginning. He has lots of talent but it is up to him to go out there and execute.
The Devils could really use a repeat performance from Nico Hischier and his linemates. That trio was incredible in the game against the Leafs. They are the team’s go-to line in all situations so they always need to be at their best. Nico taking the next step is pivotal to the long-term success of the Devils so watching him play like that is truly a sight to behold. Against a team like the Ottawa Senators could really be where he thrives.
The Ottawa Senators are in another year of their rebuild but that doesn’t mean they are a pushover. They are definitely a little better than people give them credit for. The Devils should know that all too well as a loss to the Senators earlier the season really made people realize that the Devils are not that good at all. They have a chance here to redeem themselves.
The Senators have some great players having strong years. Nobody is more surprising than Anthony Duclair. He has bounced around the league so far in his career but the Senators seemed to have unlocked his potential. He is currently leading them in scoring with 30 points. It is impressive because 21 of those points are goals. He is really having a lot of success with putting the puck in the net. They are also getting great production from Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Brady Tkachuk. The latter is really good at getting under people’s skin as well as beating you on the scoresheet.
Another player that the Devils should really keep their eyes on is Thomas Chabot. He leads the Sens in assists with 19. At 22 years old, he is turning into one of the best young defensemen in the league. He can impact the game in a way that few defensemen can so the Devils need to make sure they keep him in check. It isn’t going to be easy because he can break out his forwards and do what is needed to create chances. This is a good test for the Devils as they try to go into 2020 with a certain level of confidence. This is their second to last chance in 2019.