On Monday, the New Jersey Devils lost to the New York Islanders 3-2 in overtime. The highlights of the game were Simon Nemec’s goal with 4.7 seconds left and Mathew Barzal’s overtime winner, but earlier in the game, Kyle Palmieri scored a goal against his former team. Palmieri actually has eight goals against his former team, although some of those came with the Anaheim Ducks.
It’s not the first time a former Devils player scored against the team they once suited up for. Ryan Graves scored for the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday after spending most of the season in the AHL. Curtis Lazar scored with his new team, the Edmonton Oilers. Heck, the first goal of the season against the season was scored by former Devils star Taylor Hall.
You may be seeing the theme here. It does not matter who the former player is, or how much they are struggling after leaving the New Jersey Devils; they will score against the New Jersey Devils. It’s automatic.
At least, it feels automatic. The Devils cannot stop their former players from dominating. Scott Wedgewood is famously good against the Devils after they placed him on waivers, and the Arizona Coyotes claimed him. Mackenzie Blackwood usually crushes the Devils after they traded him to the San Jose Sharks. The opposing offense is assumed to be just as dominant.
However, it’s not the case. Perception is not reality.
On the latest episode of the 32 Thoughts Podcast, Sportsnet reporters Elliotte Friedman and Kyle Bukauskas took a question from a Devils fan who straight up asked if they had the most goals scored against them by former players. And the result was: they are not. They aren’t even close.
The Devils are 15th on the list when it comes to active former players scoring goals against them. At the top of the list is actually the Devils' opponent from Wednesday night, the Chicago Blackhawks. Twenty-two players have scored 64 goals against the Blackhawks.
We don’t think this fact check is going to change the narrative. When the Devils head to Florida next week, it’ll be assumed Jesper Boqvist is lighting the lamp. And when the Blue Jackets come to town on December 1st, Miles Wood will surely get his goal-scoring touch. We as Devils fans will believe that former players are gunning for us, and every time it happens, we’ll feel justified in our suspicions.