New Jersey Devils: One Line Dominated The Weekend Play
The New Jersey Devils had a big weekend. They defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday night to kick things off. It was their most complete victory of the season as they played very well for the entire game. Sunday was a bit more of a challenge but they managed to grab a point against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
They had a lead and allowed Columbus to tie the game at 3 after being up 3-2 but some missed opportunities late in the game (including an extended 5 on 3) allowed the game to reach overtime. Nothing came there and the Devils lost in the shootout. However, taking three points out of four is mostly good news as they end October 4-2-1.
For the most part, everyone did their jobs over the weekend. Without Jack Hughes healthy, everyone seems to be carrying their own weight. However, one line sticks out above the rest as a trio of forwards that can absolutely dominate play in large stretches.
That line is the group of Dawson Mercer centering Jesper Bratt and Andreas Johnsson. Over the course of the weekend, they combined for seven points in the two games. They were significant players in a back-to-back that needed to see New Jersey get some standings points.
The New Jersey Devils got three points out of four thanks to this forward line.
The best part of the line is the rookie, Dawson Mercer. He is an incredible young two-way guy that creates offense as good as any rookie that the Devils have ever had in the early going. Against the Blue Jackets, he scored a very impressive goal on a wraparound that got the game tied at that point in the game.
If he keeps up the offense and continues to dominate with lots of takeaways, he will be a huge part of the core. When he is played on a good line with good wingers, he is a game-changing player that is only going to get better.
Jesper Bratt was off to a slow start to the season. Last week against the Calgary Flames, he was benched. That move by head coach Lindy Ruff really woke Bratt up and he has been amazing ever since. He was awarded a penalty shot goal against the Penguins on Saturday and scored.
The goal happened to be a game-winner which was very good to see. He is all the way back after the way he played against the Blue Jackets a day later which is great news for the New Jersey Devils.
Andreas Johnsson was a major disappointment in 2020-21. He came over in a deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs in the offseason leading up to that. For whatever reason, it didn’t click for him in a Devils uniform right away but now he has been awesome.
He scored in the 1:07 into the game on Sunday and that was his fourth of the season in just six games. If he is able to be one of the good depth scorers on the team right now, they will have a legit chance of competing for wins late into the year.
At different points of the season, different lines are going to carry. Right now, this line is going but it means a little more because it is a sign of things to come. Johnsson is a good depth scorer and so is Bratt. However, seeing Mercer come in, play this well, and elevate the play of his wingers has been outstanding to see. We can only hope it continues and perhaps gets even better.