New Jersey Devils Special Teams Need To Be Better In Game 2
The New Jersey Devils finally skated in a Stanley Cup Playoff game for the first time in five years. It was a long-anticipated return that had a lot of people excited about this team.
Unfortunately, game one of this series went horribly for the Devils as the New York Rangers took it to them by a final score of 5-1. New York’s experience was evident in the Game 1 win.
One very noticeable issue for the Devils was the difference in the special teams. The Rangers dominated that part of the game and that played a huge role in them winning the hockey game.
New Jersey was awarded a power play early in the game and didn’t capitalize. That was the first of four failed power play attempts throughout the game.
On the flip side, the New York Rangers scored two power-play goals on three attempts. On the only one they failed to convert on, they scored, but it was waved off because of a high stick. Unfortunately, they scored right after that when the penalty expired.
The New Jersey Devils need their special teams to be better going forward.
New Jersey has to have a better power play, and penalty kill if they want to win game two of this seven-game series. They don’t want to go back to Madison Square Garden down 2-0 in the series, so it is paramount that the second game is much better.
The Devils don’t have to completely dominate in this area if they want to win (although it would be nice), but they do need to be better than they were in game one.
Things would have been much different if they were a bit more efficient on special teams. If it was nerves, those have to be shaken by game two.
How do you fix them? When it comes to the power play, you need better decision-making from the stars like Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier, Jesper Bratt, Timo Meier, and Dougie Hamilton. You can’t be passing on as many clear looks to the net as they did.
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It is weird that Yegor Sharangovich wasn’t playing for his penalty-killing ability alone. He is one of the best penalty killers on the team and needs to be out there. Hopefully, Lindy Ruff makes the right decision in Game 2. He along with the rest of the penalty killers must be better, including Vitek Vanecek.
If they win the special teams battle in game number two, they absolutely can even this series. Hopefully, they find a way to get it done.