New Jersey Devils: Outplaying Your Opponent Isn’t Enough

Coming into the 2022-23 season, the New Jersey Devils had some high expectations. They are a lot of people’s “sleeper picks” as a team that could surprise some and makes it to the playoffs. So far, they have looked like that team but still only have an 0-2-0 record.

We know that their first game of the season against the Philadelphia Flyers didn’t go their way. They had some sloppy moments but were mostly the better team in that game. It felt like something that they can build on going into the second game.

They were so much better than the Detroit Red Wings in game two on Saturday night but they still lost the game. It is a team that is quickly learning that dominating your opponent simply isn’t enough. They were even better in this game and still lost 5-2.

When Detroit had its rare chances, it capitalized. The Devils outshot them 39-22 which is a massive advantage. They also hit the post a couple of times but the point here is that none of that matters. They have to finish on some of their chances if they want to win games.

The New Jersey Devils can’t just be satisfied by outplaying their opponent.

The scoreboard isn’t affected by which team looks better. It is changed by the team that scores goals. Jack Hughes looked incredible out there once again but didn’t have anything to show for it. The points will certainly come this season but looking the part simply isn’t enough.

It is obvious that the Devils are a team loaded with skill but they need their coach to get the line combinations right. The better goal scorers on the team need to be playing with the better setup men on the team. That wasn’t the case for a lot of Saturday nights game.

They have another opportunity against an opponent trying to find their own way in the Anaheim Ducks. If the Devils want to get their first win against them, they are going to have to continue limiting chances while starting to capitalize on their own.

Being 0-2-0 the way that the Devils are is better than being dominated in both games. That would be an entirely new problem. If they can just get that scoring touch added to the chances that they have generated, their first win could be on the horizon.

For guys like Jack Hughes, Jesper Bratt, Nico Hischier, and Yegor Sharngovich, expect a big game coming up soon. It might only be a matter of time. However, it needs to come sooner than later before this thing goes off the rails.