Devils Are Scoring In More Ways Than One
No one doubts the Devils' ability to score goals. Their speed and puck-handling abilities benefit them tremendously in transition, where most of their offense has stemmed from over the last few years. However, so far this season, the Devils have been scoring from multiple areas of the ice, finding offense in transition as well as off the forecheck in the offensive and neutral zones. Last night was a clear example of their ability to score and create offense in more ways than one.
The first Devils goal stemmed from a dump-and-chase zone entry from the Hughes line. A Jesper Bratt pass to the point led to New Jersey breaking the seal with Casey's goal. This is important because the Hughes line is not known for its forechecking pressure, yet those players showed their capability below the dots. The second New Jersey goal came from a Capitals turnover in the neutral zone. The Cotter-Haula-Noesen line would take advantage, using their speed and puck movement to score on a tic-tac-toe play.
The next goal came from the same line, with the Devils again finding themselves below the dots on a hard forecheck. Noesen grabbed a loose puck, feeding a cutting Tatar in front, who whacked at the puck, sending his own rebound into the back of the net. Cotter’s second goal of the game started with him pressuring Rasmus Sandin, leading to a turnover to Haula, who fed the puck to the stick of Stefan Noesen, coming in on a two on one leading to the Cotter goal. The Devils would take the lead and not relinquish it for the rest of the contest.
It’s clear New Jersey’s depth has been a strength to start the season, but what's even more evident are the different ways they find offense and put the puck in the back of the net. Saturday night's game was another clear example of this.