4. Solid goaltending from Nico Daws
Nico Daws had his fourth consecutive start in net on Saturday night, and with the victory at MetLife, he has won three of those last four. Daws faced 48 shots and had 45 saves through three periods of play. The outdoor conditions are not always easy for goalies to navigate, as sight lines are different on an outdoor rink, but Daws looked as comfortable as ever. Vitek Vanecek and Akira Schmid were the goaltending tandem that took the Devils to the playoffs last year, but as a result of injuries and poor stretches of play, 23-year-old Nico Daws has been allowed to show what he’s made of. If Daws continues to produce consistent play in net, it can give the Devils a much-needed boost of confidence and the ability to establish and maintain leads in games, as seen Saturday.
5. The power play needs help
It’s no secret that the Devils power play has struggled as of late. On Saturday, the Devils had five power play opportunities, which resulted in zero goals and just six shots. Ruff has shown that he’s not above re-tweaking things (as can be seen from the defensive shift), so maybe this is his next project. It’s clear that something’s got to give. With Jack Hughes returning from injury, it offers an opportunity for him to reassert his dominance on the first power play unit. Hughes has often generated offense and solid chances for his PP unit and demonstrated his natural chemistry with his brother Luke Hughes. Hopefully, as he adjusts back into the swing of things, he’ll continue to help lift the power play out of its funk and back to the legitimate threat it has been.