Pucks and Pitchforks
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New Jersey Devils: Special Teams Makes It Impossible To Enjoy This Season

By Nick Villano

NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - APRIL 18: Mika Zibanejad #93 of the New York Rangers scores the game winning goal on the powerplay at 17:00 of the third period against Mackenzie Blackwood #29 of the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center on April 18, 2021 in Newark, New Jersey. The Rangers defeated the Devils 5-3. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - APRIL 18: Mika Zibanejad #93 of the New York Rangers scores the game winning goal on the powerplay at 17:00 of the third period against Mackenzie Blackwood #29 of the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center on April 18, 2021 in Newark, New Jersey. The Rangers defeated the Devils 5-3. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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Coming into this season, if New Jersey Devils fans were told Jack Hughes would be a possession dynamo, Mackenzie Blackwood would have moments of being elite, P.K. Subban would look a LOT better, and three unexpected rookies would be in the top-ten in the Calder Trophy race, just about everyone would sign on. However, that’s exactly what’s happening, but the season has been an absolute drag. The Devils have 14 victories in 34 games, and they just came off losing four straight against the New York Rangers.

So, how could this happen? The Devils literally led in just about every advanced stat on Sunday, but they lost 5-3. Despite leading in Corsi For, Fenwick, xGF, and being tied in high-danger chances, the Devils lost.

The Devils special teams ruined this season. This isn’t saying anything anybody doesn’t know. The Devils allow a power play goal on 30 percent of penalty-kill attempts. Right now, the Devils penalty kill is one of the worst units of all time. Only three teams since 1977 have a worse penalty kill than this iteration of the Devils. Two of the teams were those early Los Angeles Kings teams that were terrible. If the Devils keep getting worse, which they probably will without Dmitry Kulikov or Sami Vatanen on the roster, they could have the worst penalty kill ever.

It would be one thing if the Devils power play was helping, but they are hurting just as bad. They are scoring with the man advantage on just over 12 percent of opportunities. Only the Detroit Red Wings and Anaheim Ducks are worse this season.

Let’s say the Devils had a league average penalty kill and power play. This isn’t saying anything close to elite, we just want them to be average. This would add nine power play goals (assuming a 20% power play) and it would take away 12 goals against on the penalty kill. Adding 21 goals to the Devils differential would make this season feel a lot different.

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This team has so many flaws that lead us here. The defense is an absolute mess. The coaching staff hasn’t really stepped up like many hoped they would, and there are moments of stubbornness that directly lead to losses. Blackwood is still a little too inconsistent. Nico Hischier missed most of this season. The team is the youngest in the league and one of the youngest in recent history.

However, if the Devils special team was only alright instead of historically bad, this would be a much better season. It would at least be a lot more fun.

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