Reason #4: Stars Will Get Going
Speaking of Meier, he really was snake bitten all series. After scoring 40 goals during the regular season, Meier had zero in the playoff series. Meier started the season with no goals in nine games. Then, he went on a run. He never went more than give games without a goal, and that only happened once. Yet, he went seven games without a goal to start the postseason? Expect the floodgates to burst for Meier, who had 16 individual high-danger chances this series. That’s the highest on the team.
Second on the team was Nico Hischier, who had 14. The captain also finished the season with zero goals. It was nearly impossible to have that happen, but the Devils faced the impossible in Igor Shesterkin. Hischier had his chances, and he’s gone through scoring slumps before this season. He always comes out of them on fire. That will happen again.
Jack Hughes was really good in the Rangers series. He is the reason they even had a chance, scoring the goal that made it 1-1 in Game 3, and the Devils ended up winning in overtime.
Jesper Bratt scored the Devils empty-net goal to make it 4-0. That was a very important goal. Bratt has struggled in this series, maybe more than any other forward. Getting that goal could mean floodgates for him as well.