Avalanche 8, Devils 4: Markstrom's struggles continue

Jacob Markstrom was not good in his return to the crease. Unfortunately, that's nothing new this season.

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The New Jersey Devils were handed their first defeat since opening night on Tuesday, and it came in ugly fashion.

Let’s get into it.

Markstrom sunk the ship 🚢

I noted in my preview the Avalanche were going to come out gangbusters and that the Devils needed to weather the storm early by managing the puck and avoiding bad penalties. The 1st period was always going to be about damage control.

Jacob Markstrom must not be an IA reader because he completely missed the memo. He came out to play the puck and needlessly fired it over the glass for a penalty on his very first touch of the game. Naturally, the Avalanche converted on the power play and they were off the races.

Markstrom’s first couple of minutes were a perfect encapsulation of what was to come. He conceded eight times on 42 shots (.810 save percentage) and allowed 4.05 more goals than expected based on the chances given up.

Many will argue the defense in front of him was not up to par and it wouldn’t have mattered who was between the pipes. Sheldon Keefe is among that crowd, perhaps trying to protect his struggling starter.

While the defense wasn’t good, I don’t think Markstrom deserves to be let off the hook. Markstrom highlighted mistakes rather than masking them. He was bad.

Markstrom conceded eight goals and the Avalanche beat him clean several more times, hitting four or five posts. It’s not far fetched to say Markstrom could have, and perhaps should have, allowed 10 goals.

I don’t care if Markstrom is playing behind the entire Utica Comets team and they’re on their heels the whole game. Those results are never going to be acceptable.

I’m also unwilling to give Markstrom the benefit of the doubt given how poorly he has played thus far.

He has made three starts this season. He allowed five goals on 32 shots (.844 SV%), three goals on 17 shots (.824 SV%), and eight goals on 42 shots (.810 SV%). He has not managed an .850 save percentage – forget .900! – over one full game on a team that is 8-2.

Only Joel Hofer has allowed more goals above expectation per 60 minutes. Take out the solid 20 minutes of relief vs. Columbus and Markstrom is right there for last place.

There’s a lot of talk about the Devils wanting to work with Markstrom on an extension with term.

I was concerned about that idea before the year – relying on two goaltenders in their late 30s year after year is a pass for me – and what we’ve seen thus far has me even more offput.

The young blueliners struggled 📉