The New Jersey Devils once again put up a solid performance and put another two points in the bank against a tough team that was fully expected to play in the postseason. While it is early and things will change the Devils are currently sitting fourth in the division despite not playing as good as they could which is a good sign should they begin to play the way we think they can. This is also a team missing its best offensive player and that has had some adversity early on thanks to injuries. Things will be very interesting going forward and the Devils might be a team people start to notice.
The Good
Dawson Mercer continued to be a monster on the ice all night and while he only got one point he was very close on a breakaway and sent Johnsson and Tatar on breaks of their own. This could easily have been a four-point night for the kid who might challenge Raymond and Seider for the Calder.
Dougie showed zero signs of injury and was all over the scoresheet like one would expect. A goal and assist with five blocks and shots is a pretty impressive comeback worthy of a true number one defender and having everyone back in their spots in the lineup was a big deal.
Pk had one of his better games and laid out a few decent hits and a few good shot blocks while not making his usual bad giveaways or slap shots that ring around the entire rink after missing the net by five feet. This is how he should be trying to play the game by not doing too much and just being a solid bottom-pairing guy.
Tomas Tatar was struggling to put up points ever since the lines were shuffled and tonight it looked like he was going to continue to be snake-bitten after missing on a break courtesy of Dawson Mercer. He did however catch a big break as Hamilton ripped a shot off his leg and in the net for his first goal as a Devil. Other than his goal it was a good game and he was all over the puck and pushing the play better so perhaps the tiny bit of luck will be the catalyst to him going on a streak like so many goal scorers are apt to do.
Big Mac came up big in his third game of the season and stopped everything the islanders could throw at him. With 42 shots against he was a busy man but not a lot more needs to be said other than he could have played a better game and getting back a healthy confident Blackwood is massive for the team.
The Bad
The team did not let in a goal but that does not mean they played a perfect game by any stretch. They came out of the gate slow again and were dominated early only staying scoreless thanks to Blackwood. In the second period, the energy line for the Isles almost put one past him right away as well, and much like the last few games this team just doesn’t wake up for a few minutes each period and the coaches need to do something to fire them up.