New Jersey Devils: 5 Most Surprising Stats Of 12-Game Winning Streak
By Nick Villano
High-Danger Chances Against At All Strengths: 119
Here, we tag in Natural Stat Trick to help us formulate some advanced stats. High-danger chances are something we often use to judge NHL teams. It’s one thing to get a ton of chances overall, but getting chances in incredible scoring areas often leads to goals.
The Devils’ defense has been getting its flowers for how well it’s played to start the season. They deserve it. Adding John Marino looks like one of the best moves of the offseason. It allowed the Devils to make great pairs up and down the lineup. Graves-Marino, Hamilton-Siegenthaler, and Severson-Smith are the right pairs right now. There’s no way Lindy Ruff will change that unless we see an injury.
The Devils have allowed 119 high-danger chances since October 23rd. That’s the lowest in the league. Remember, this is at full strength, power play, penalty kill, and overtime. The Devils have been winning games because they suffocate opposing offenses. Does that sound familiar?
The Devils are turning back the clock. Tom Fitzgerald went after the types of players that help teams win in 2022. It might look similar to how the Devils were winning in 2000 and 2003, but things had to change slightly with a different league. The Devils need a player like Dougie Hamilton who can hold himself defensively but also crush it offensively.
The Devils’ defense has been the best in the league this season. The numbers do not lie. While nobody will be a Norris candidate at this point, there is no team with the same depth at the position. It’s crazy how different this defense is playing compared to just two years ago.