New Jersey Devils: Going Into Break On A Major Down Note

The New Jersey Devils are not a good team. They were, however, playing well before a three-game losing streak heading into the break.

The New Jersey Devils are officially on their mandatory bye week. That bye week leads them right into the All-Star Break. They would have liked to go into this break feeling good about themselves, but that is just not the case. They instead lost to the Columbus Blue Jackets 5-0 to head into the break on the ultimate down. This loss followed losses to the Toronto Maple Leafs and Washington Capitals making it a three-game losing streak.

Times are very tough in Newark right now. They stink on the ice, they don’t have a full-time coach, they don’t have a full-time GM, and they traded away the one MVP-caliber player that they’ve had in a while. They need to look at themselves in the mirror over the summer and make some serious decisions. They have some key pieces in place, but have done a dreadful job of building around them.

The Columbus Blue Jackets came into the season with the perception that they would be the worst team in the Metropolitan Division. They lost multiple superstars at multiple positions to free agency. Instead of feeling sorry for themselves, they work together and are currently in a playoff position. They are exactly the team the Devils should be. The Devils, like the Blue Jackets, have good players that just aren’t able to put it all together.

Goaltending has a lot to do with it. Elvis Merzlikins shutout the Devils to earn his third shutout in his last four games. This is all in replacement of Sergei Bobrovsky who left them to sign a very lucrative deal with the Florida Panthers. Cory Schneider made his first start in 71 days and it did not go well. The Devils were thoroughly outplaying the Blue Jackets and Schneider just couldn’t make a save. It is very deflating when you get bad goaltending and that happened here. If they don’t figure out their goaltending issues soon, this rebuild is never going to end.

So what comes next for the Devils? Hopefully, the guys are able to go and recharge the batteries away from hockey. Nico Hischier is going to represent the Devils by playing for the Metropolitan Division at the All-Star Game. This is going to be very fun to see the number one overall pick in the 2017 NHL Draft go enjoy the festivities with all of the best players in the world. Nico has been one bright spot for most of the season so seeing him go to St. Louis to represent the Devils is such fun. The rest of the guys need to relax and come back with a good mindset.