Grading New Jersey Devils Lines After First Two Games
Pairing One
Murray-Subban
Ryan Murray has been quiet, but that is a good thing out of a defenseman. P.K. Subban however has been, well, Subban. He made some terrible passes and is a sink on the powerplay again. Cross ice passes that could have cost the team the game, a bad penalty and way too many minutes. He doesn’t have the gas tank he once had, and this will not go well as the season goes on. His decision making and hockey IQ are questionable at best, so giving some more minutes to the bottom pairings would help the team a lot.
Week one grade: B-
Pairing Two
Kulikov-Severson
Dmitry Kulikov has been quiet much like Murray, but again, it is what this team needed. Not everyone can be a flashy puck rusher. He has synergized well with Damon Severson so far. Severson has also been rushing more and getting involved in the play, which is something he excelled at early in his career. This pairing could be very successful for the team if they continue to work like this together.
Week one grade: B+
Pairing Three
Smith-Tennyson
Matt Tennyson has actually surprised with his strong skating and jumping into the play. He has been tenacious on the puck and once again outplayed a young player to hold a spot moving forward by the looks of it as Will Butcher might be sitting for a while. Ty Smith has been an absolute monster moving the puck fast and crisp while making strong decisions on the puck. He put up his first goal on night one and another assist in Game 2. Smith has a good shot at being a top 4 and even top 2 defender still as he grows into a full time NHL player.
Week one grade: A- (thanks entirely to Smith)
Next. Point Prediction For Every New Jersey Devils' Player. dark
Goaltending
Mackenzie Blackwood is an absolute premier goalie in the NHL and if he was on a good team would be talked about like Carter Hart as a top10 or even 5 goalie in the NHL. Once again on game two, he shut down the other team completely at even strength only letting in a goal from the slot by Patrice Bergeron on the rush. Getting the pass and going across the net while he shot the other way, it is a tough save to make and Subban needed to actually play the pass and get on Bergeron while Palmieri made sure that Marchand could not drive the net. Blackwood might finally get the recognition he deserves this season.