It’s pretty clear there’s something off about the New Jersey Devils offense right now. Everything just feels so vanilla during their four-game losing streak. There are high-danger chances, as proof by their 30 high-danger goals this season. The Devils are tied for seventh in the league in high-danger goals at 5v5. Obviously, that shows the team is getting a lot of chances down low, which is good for the process. However, it’s not news to say the Devils are struggling to finish overall.
The Devils scored on 12.8% of their high-danger chances. However, if they don’t get a high-danger chance, they don’t seem to score. A lot of teams use tipped shots and deflected shots to overcome an inability to finish.
The Devils are one of the worst teams when it comes to tipping shots into the net. According to NHL.com, the Devils are shooting just 7.1% on tipped shots. That’s the fifth-worst in the league. Then, there is the 16% on deflected shots by the Devils. They do a little better in league rankings there, but they are about average, which isn’t enough to make up for their deficit on tipped shots.
When looking at the goals it produces, it’s getting to a really bad level. The Devils only have two goals on tipped shots. They also only have one goal on deflections. That’s clearly one of the lowest percentages in the league. The Devils need to try and produce more deflections and better deflections in order to put the puck in the back of the net. Too often the Devils see a defenseman take a wrist shot from the point only to get to the goalie untouched for an easy save.
The Devils are taking a ton of snap shots this season. It seems like they are constantly coming from defensemen moving up the ice and taking that shot. It’s a good tool to have in the arsenal, especially with how Dougie Hamilton and Ryan Graves are using it right now, but it seems like it’s the only game in town. The Devils lead the league in snap shots. They are in front by a lot. They’ve taken 257 snap shots this season. The Carolina Hurricanes are second in the league with 187.
The snap shot is just in general a low percentage shot. It has less accuracy than a wrist shot and obviously less power than a slap shot. The snap shot is often coming when a player is trying to throw it quickly at a goalie, but that only works in very certain situations. This season, it seems the Devils are too often throwing it right into a goalie’s chest.
Despite having so many more snap shots than anyone else in the league, the Devils aren’t even in the top five in snap shot goals. They have 16 on 257 shots. That’s a 6% shooting percentage on the Devils’ favorite type of shot. They are tied with the Arizona Coyotes with the third-worst shooting percentage on this type of shot.
Meanwhile, the Devils are shooting 10.3% on the wrist shot. When it comes to backhands, they are a ridiculous 17.2% shooting percentage on backhand shots. That’s tied for third in the league with the Nashville Predators.
The Devils are clearly holding onto the stick too tightly. That’s why they continuously go for a low-percentage shot over and over again. The statistics prove it. They need to change their offensive decision-making over anything else. Obviously, the power play issues have a lot to do with which shots they are taking. This is where deflections and one-timers would rule if the Devils’ power play was useful. However, even at even strength, the Devils are struggling to get the right pieces in place. They need to not just get shots on goal, but they need to get the right shots on goal if they are going to end this losing streak.