Poor Effort Continues For New Jersey Devils As Western Canada Trip Ends
The New Jersey Devils went into Western Canada playing some decent hockey winning 3 of 4 including wins against a strong Blues team and the favorites to come out of the Western Conference in the Colorado Avalanche. As per usual, this team slowly sank back into the long streaks of losing that playoff teams don’t do. In the three games on the road trip, the team allowed 6 goals every game. At the same time, they only scored 3. It just seemed like the Devils were never in control.
The Devils can’t afford to let a goal in as quickly as they did against the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday. How goalie Jon Gilles did not know the puck was loose was something to behold. It seemed like he wasn’t moving for a full five seconds. Goaltending continues to sink this team and the only bright side is that apparently the team has finally figured it out and for good or bad Mackenzie Blackwood might not be starting next season. As for this game, Gilles showed his best was not good enough at the NHL level. Rookie goalie Nico Daws showed while he is good he is probably too young and not quite ready.
As for the effort against Edmonton, where was it? Jesper Bratt had some good plays and Nico Hischier was alright, but the rest of the team looked not so much tired, but like they quit on the game. No one was moving their legs and the team made way too many lazy passes and stick checks all night.
Head coach Lindy Ruff and the rest of the coaching staff need to make sure this team competes night in and night out. Playoff teams don’t take nights off, champions don’t take nights off. While this Devils team isn’t making the playoffs, this is the time the team should prove they at least have the right mindset.
As for the other coaches, how is the team still making the same mistakes like not defending the center of the ice? Hopefully, GM Tom Fitzgerald asks this very question because there is no way a player can make the NHL while thinking the slot is a great place to leave open. The power play looked sluggish and couldn’t move the puck to get any momentum going and is continuing to sit in the bottom ten with a top 5 offensive defender in Dougie Hamilton on the second pairing.
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While it is clear that they will finish the season hopefully next season they do a full change behind the bench because this is never going to work. The guys on the ice however need to show more and play with the pride they were before, especially if they truly think they can be better next season.