Pucks and Pitchforks
Fansided

New Jersey Devils Play Two Different Games With Very Different Results

By Tone Rodriguez

NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - OCTOBER 12: Nico Hischier #13 of the New Jersey Devils stands at attention during the national anthem prior to playing against the Detroit Red Wings at the Prudential Center on October 12, 2023 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - OCTOBER 12: Nico Hischier #13 of the New Jersey Devils stands at attention during the national anthem prior to playing against the Detroit Red Wings at the Prudential Center on October 12, 2023 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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Off of a back-to-back to open up the season, the New Jersey Devils find themselves with three points, sitting at 1-0-1. The team has started each game slow, which has been uninspiring. The forecheck has given the Devils issues, and the defense has looked lost at times.

With all of that said, we sit here seeing how no matter how bad it looks for New Jersey, with the talent and speed that the Devils have, they will always be in it. Execution and technicality have to be talking points over the weekend for Lindy Ruff. Before we get to our thoughts, stick taps to Vitek Vanecek.

Oh Ondrej!!! Devils over Red Wings 4-3

New Jersey Devils
New Jersey Devils left wing Ondrej Palat (18): Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports /

We can speak about a plethora of things from Game 1, but the main thought of the game pertains to Ondrej Palat. Palat missed a good chunk of last season after coming over from the Tampa Bay Lightning on a five-year deal. We expected Palat to be a guy who brought veteran leadership along with that “clutch gene” we saw in Tampa, where he had the most game-winning goals during the playoffs for Tampa Bay.

He is the type of guy who turns the heat on when it matters most. Boy did give us a nice little show on Thursday night versus the Red Wings. On the power play right after falling down 1-0, Palat started off the play with a simple pass that led to an insane Jack Hughes goal. While it was just a simple pass, it’s the concept and understanding that whenever Palat is on the ice in that situation, good things happen! Although he played only 14 minutes, whenever Palat touched the ice, you knew he was there. He also had the 3rd highest power play time on ice at 4 minutes, which was only second to Hughes and Bratt.

The biggest play came when the Devils were in a stalemate with Detroit. Ondrej Palat had a hard drive to the net, leaving Jeff Petry with no choice but to take the penalty by holding Palat (17:20 into the 3rd period). It showed the type of pressure Palat can create when the game is on the line and fully healthy. I don’t think we have bigged up Palat enough for his performance vs Red Wings.

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