New Jersey Devils Overcome Adversity Against Oilers

The New Jersey Devils overcame huge adversity on ice against the Edmonton Oilers on New Year’s Eve. The game was just all over the place. The first thing that needs to be talked about in this win is the officiating. The last time the Oilers and Devils played, the Devils took the loss on a goal way after the whistle which is clearly against the rules. This time, the game was nearly lost on a goal scored after the Devils had touched the puck twice on a delayed penalty.

The fact the ref did not blow it down when Dougie Hamilton hit the puck five feet right in front of him is worthy of a phone call by the league. It sets a dangerous precedent if this was how they were to call it. If you can hit the puck changing its speed and direction without a whistle, then if that puck had passed the blueline and went in it is a legal goal. This needs to be addressed immediately to all referees or teams should be taking slap shots every game at the empty net because it is a free goal and apparently not possession.

The team’s best players were the best players on the ice and stepped up big for the second game in a row. Jack Hughes scored the first and last goal while Jesper Bratt and Hamilton had a pair of assists each. All of them were involved all night but getting off to a fast start again surprisingly really got the team going and without it this would have probably been a blow out.

The Devils gave up a goal right away in a poor defensive fashion letting Connor McDavid get open for some reason but the bounces were going their way when Nico Hischier knocked one in from behind the net off Mike Smith‘s back. The first 12 minutes were insane offensively and it looked like a night that a team could score 8 or 10 goals.

In the second period, it slowed down which was probably needed but on McDavid’s goal somehow the Devils let him get open and in the spot for a breakaway again. P.K. Subban was standing right on Leon Draisaitl. He went for a change that directly led to the goal.

The third picked up again and Janne Kuokkanen‘s shot was really good picking the top corner for another go-ahead goal. before things went bad and then ugly like mentioned before with the reffing but this team had some fight left in them. Yegor Sharangovich got his second tip-in goal since the Christmas break and being back with Hughes is starting to rejuvenate him. His play all over is taking a step in the right direction again and the coaches need to keep the pair together.

Moving into overtime against a team with probably the two best forwards in the league for a 3v3 skills competition is nerve-wracking, but the Devils kept their cool and pulled off a win. When Jack Hughes didn’t score on his breakaway things looked grim knowing Draisaitl or McDavid would probably bury the first chance they got, but Hughes got another shot at it and used the defender as a screen and snuck the puck barely past Mike Smith. While Hughes has always been a playmaker first his shot is still under rated and this season he is way more willing to use it which is going to be massive for him and the team. Teams now should be worried about him shooting more and in doing so he is going to be threading passes to open players as his ascent continues.

The Devils next game is another test as the seasons easier early schedule is done and they face off with the always strong Washington Capitals. Look for this one to have some goals as well and the Devils need to be awake for the start of the game for a third straight or they will be punished by Ovechkin.