The New Jersey Devils completed their Western Canada road trip Monday night in what was an entertaining battle against the Connor McDavid-less Edmonton Oilers. The Devils won the game 3-0, concluding their road trip with a 2-1-0 record and taking three of the last four games. There are a multitude of directions to go when analyzing the Devils these past few games, but one determinant stands out over the rest: goaltending. After a debilitating four-game losing streak in which the Devils gave up a total of 23 goals, goaltending once again became the center of attention for all the wrong reasons. In what’s been a strong response in the past week, goaltending once again is the center of attention. This time, for all the right reasons.
It’s clear New Jersey has been and still is figuring out their identity. Their structure over the first month of the season has had moments of brilliance, but overall a lack of continuity looms large. There were many instances where personnel groups were not in sync, causing concern among fans and raising questions about the legitimacy of this Devils team. It was a month of survival for New Jersey, and they finished at 7-4-2, barely above .500. One of the concerns among the fanbase has centered around goaltending. After a strong start to the season, both Jacob Markstrom and Jake Allen, with the help of some lackluster defensive performances, underperformed and the four-game losing streak displayed how valuable goaltending truly is and how it can debilitate this talented Devils group. The western Canada road trip proved the opposite is true as well: that goaltending can elevate this Devils team on a nightly basis.
When the Devils are not in sync, or when the opposition makes it difficult for New Jersey to execute, the Devils will need their skilled goaltenders to produce. At times, they will need to be the deciding factor. During the Western Canada road trip, Jacob Markstrom and Jake Allen were that and then some. Against Vancouver, Markstrom stopped all 20 shots thrown at him in what was a complementary road victory. Tough bounces and late defensive breakdowns, not Jacob Markstrom, were integral in the lone defeat against Calgary.
Markstrom was impressive and did everything he could to ensure the Devils swept this road trip. Jake Allen concluded the trip with an impressive 31-save shutout against the defending Western Conference champions in Edmonton. With each goaltender providing this Devils team with their very own gift-wrapped shutout, the New Jersey Devils were able to leave Western Canada with some much-needed momentum heading into November.
A rushed training camp, overseas travel, and limited practice time amounted to a month of adversity for New Jersey. Yes, these are excuses, and the players and coaches won’t use them to explain the level of play, but they are very real factors at play. The western Canada road trip was yet another formidable challenge for this team and New Jersey impressively passed the test with help from their goaltenders. Their upgraded defense has been impressive through this process of unification and the offense is dangerously full of depth. Again, this Devils team is built to compete with an unknown landing zone. Jacob Markstrom and Jake Allen will play integral roles in determining where this team will land this season.