5. Elite-Level Goaltending
This one might be the one we’re most confident in happening. Jonathan Bernier has been really good for most of the season even if he didn’t have his best game on Tuesday night. He has proven he can win games on his own. Mackenzie Blackwood is finally back from his offseason heel surgery, and he was the backup on Tuesday night. He should be ready to play later this week. The Devils have two really good goalies who should give them a chance to win on a nightly basis.
Blackwood is the real question mark here. He’s the Devils starter when things fall into place perfectly. He has the skills to be one of the top goalies in the league. He’s been that in seasons past. Last year was a little different as he admitted he had a lot of trouble dealing with some impacts of long-term COVID, but he is fully healthy now. As long as the heel doesn’t become a major problem, the Devils should be able to get the best out of Blackwood.
These two are going to need to carry the Devils through these hard times. If we’ve learned anything from contenders in the past it’s that the best players need to step up. Outside of Hischier and Dawson Mercer, Blackwood and Bernier might be the best players on the ice for the Devils. They need to prove why they can be an elite duo.