4. October 13th
Overtime Loss to Arizona
There are certain moments in sports that can only be described as "humbling." That was exactly what happened when the Devils fell to the Arizona Coyotes in overtime. After surviving the first game of the season against the Detroit Red Wings, they failed to show up against the Coyotes. If it wasn't humbling for the team, it sure was humbling for the fans.
This moment told all of us that this season was different. It was a good effort in the second period to come back from going down 2-0. They scored three goals in a row, and they went into intermission up 3-2. Most thought the Devils would continue the pressure through the third, finishing an easy win to go 2-0. That wasn't the way.
The Devils allowed four high-danger chances in the third period while only getting three themselves. They were missing that killer instinct.
In overtime, the Devils dominated play, but they still lost. The Coyotes survived the onslaught by the Devils, and they won in a shootout. There was a very insidious reaction by the fanbase. It turns out, it wasn't unwarranted.