Pucks and Pitchforks
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New Jersey Devils: Ty Smith Continues To Impress In 2021

By Vincent Parise

NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - JANUARY 16: Ty Smith #24 of the New Jersey Devils takes the puck in the overtime period against the Boston Bruins at Prudential Center on January 16, 2021 in Newark, New Jersey. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, the game is played without fans. The New Jersey Devils defeated the Boston Bruins 2-1 in overtime. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - JANUARY 16: Ty Smith #24 of the New Jersey Devils takes the puck in the overtime period against the Boston Bruins at Prudential Center on January 16, 2021 in Newark, New Jersey. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, the game is played without fans. The New Jersey Devils defeated the Boston Bruins 2-1 in overtime. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
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Ty Smith continues to impress on defense for the New Jersey Devils.

The New Jersey Devils received some tough news ahead of puck drop vs the New York Islanders on Thursday night. Mackenzie Blackwood was placed on the COVID-19 list. It doesn’t mean he has the virus and it could be precautionary. Of course, hoping that he is okay is the number one most important thing. That was the first of many bad things to happen to the Devils on Thursday which included a game versus the New York Islanders.

Scott Wedgewood got the start and the Devils were mostly terrible in front of him. He wasn’t great himself but the 4-1 loss was not all on him. One positive from this game, however, was the play of Ty Smith. He has been sensational to start the season and it has been a bit overshadowed by the play of Mackenzie Blackwood, Jack Hughes, and Yegor Sharangovich.

On the Devils’ only goal of the game, Ty Smith recorded an assist on the goal scored by Nathan Bastian. It was a sweet goal to get the Devils within one going into the third period, but they weren’t able to advance from there. Either way, the point extended Smith’s point streak to start his career to four games. He is just the 11th defenseman in NHL history to do that so you know it has been a remarkable start.

When the New Jersey Devils selected Ty Smith with the 17th pick in the 2018 NHL Draft, he probably didn’t think his NHL debut would come in 2021 but it has been worth the wait. The Devils were patient with him and then the pandemic hit. Well, now they are reaping the benefits of those factors as he seems like a guy who will be a part of the core for a long time. Whether or not he can be a number one or number two remains to be seen but it is going well so far.

With the hot start to the season, Smith has to be in the conversation for the Calder Trophy. It is early and anything can happen, but he didn’t get much preseason love as far as odds. A kid like Kirill Kaprizov has to be the favorite right now, and kids like Alexis Lafreniere, Igor Shesterkin, and Tim Stutzle are in the mix as well. However, Smith could get in there.

Related Story. Mackenzie Blackwood is on the COVID-19 list. light

Smith and the Devils have a couple of days off before they are back in action again. The New York Islanders will be in town to rematch the Devils on Sunday night. This is their chance to get back to what made them successful against the Bruins and Rangers and have the home-ice advantage. Hopefully, they are able to get the matchups they need to play their system the right way and score some more goals.

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