Are New Jersey Devils Actually The Best Team In The League?
By Nick Villano
The New Jersey Devils have been dominant this season. Since losing the first two games of the season, the Devils have lost a total of two games. One was a legitimate destruction at the hands of the Washington Capitals. The other was the most controversial game this season, where three goals were overturned against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
For those counting at home, the Devils are 19-2-0 since game two. That has them tied with the Boston Bruins for the most points in the NHL. The Bruins cannot lose, either. They have the edge in points percentage, but many analysts still give the Devils the edge.
Puck Prose ranked the Devils as the top team in their power rankings. CBS Sports had the Devils at number one. Money Puck has the Devils at the top of their standings, as well. Pretty much everyone else has the Devils second to the Bruins.
The Devils are winning in every single way possible. They are dominant defensively when necessary. Their offense takes over when it absolutely has to. They can play catch up, or they can make a comeback. Whatever Lindy Ruff needs this team to do, they find a way. Even in their loss to the Maple Leafs, they went off on Matt Murray in the third period. The Devils had 11 high-danger chances in the third period against the Maple Leafs’ two.
Are we really here? Are we asking if the Devils are the best team in the league? Like, the entire league?
It’s a legitimate question. The Devils early season complaints were they didn’t face great competition. Lately, that hasn’t been the case. They beat the Maple Leafs in their earlier matchups. They beat Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers twice. The Calgary Flames were no match for the Devils in their back-to-back matchups.
Things are going to get a lot harder in December. They have two matchups near Christmas against the aforementioned Bruins. The reigning Presidents’ Trophy winners, the Florida Panthers, face the Devils twice as well. The Dallas Stars and Carolina Hurricanes and another matchup with the Rangers and Islanders are on the schedule.
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If the Devils are in the same position at the top of the league come New Year’s Eve, there’s no denying the Devils are the best team in the league. For now, it still seems like it’s the Bruins. Either way, it’s wild that we’ve made it to this point so quickly.