The New Jersey Devils are rocketing toward the end of the regular season. There has been a lot this team has achieved on and off the ice this season. For the first time in a long time, the end of the regular season isn’t the end of the Devils’ season.
The key to this team’s success has been the coaching, where they have really improved the effectiveness and efficiency of the New Jersey Devils’ power play under Andrew Brunette. The Devils did a good job of adding veterans to a young core at the NHL Trade Deadline to prepare for a big run.
Right now, Timo Meier is learning how to play that Devils style of hockey. One of the things that Lindy Ruff and company need to do better is to allow Meier to use more of a sniper-bulldog mentality. What is a sniper-bulldog? It is a hybrid of shooting the puck first on the net and going for the loose puck to knock in cleanly while creating bedlam on the opposing netminder and defenses.
✅ Timo Meier 🚨 pic.twitter.com/qIRVq8KRNO
— matt donders (@mattdonders) March 6, 2023
With the Devils manipulating puck possession more in the offensive zone, Meier will eventually help his center and winger synchronize. Meier had some great chances in the first period when he was paired with Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt.
Players like Dawson Mercer, Timo Meier, Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier, Ondrej Palat, and Erik Haula can bring a physical two-way game in the NHL playoffs. The grind-it-out game instead of just being a completely open space and transition game.
Erik Haula scores against the Toronto Maple Leafs to make it 3-2 #NJDvsTOR #NJDevils #LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/HXfSqYnAIh
— nopClips (@nopClips) March 8, 2023
Having a Nathan Bastian, Michael McLeod/Curtis Lazar, and Miles Wood combo on the 4th line is tailor-made for the postseason. They already play those “Bam Bam” tight puck battle possessions. If the Devils’ fourth line can become similar to the Stephen Gionta-Ryan Carter-Steve Bernier line in 2012, this team will cook. Then, add the Palat-Haula-Boqvist “Euro Line” creating bedlam, it will force opponents to rethink how they match up the Hughes and Hischier lines.
One of several keys to the upcoming games is to play Vitek Vanecek less. Let Akira Schmid begin to take on the Swiss Guard role and become an unsung netminder again who not only replaces Mackenzie Blackwood in the offseason but shows Lindy Ruff he can deal with the playoff atmosphere. If Vanecek can get rested, this can improve his goals saved average to around his all-time highs from earlier in the season.
While Timo Meier adjusts to a winning atmosphere and a winning culture, this Devils team will be very fun to watch down the stretch. A lot of great improvements are being shown, and it is possible, with the expanded rosters, the New Jersey Devils can bring up more players from Utica to help add some playoff depth.