Devils 3, Golden Knights 2: Mission accomplished

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A few notes from New Jersey’s upset victory over the Vegas Golden Knights:

The Devils put on their hard hats

New Jersey is not the same team without Jack Hughes. Not even close. He’s an immense part of the transition and rush game. He’s also the team’s best quick-strike option.

Without him, they have to take a more methodical approach and generate offense off sustained in-zone sequences and turnovers. That’s exactly what they did against Vegas.

Almost every opportunity they created – not to mention all three goals – came off simple, smart, positional hockey in the OZ.

On the first goal Damon Severson intercepted an exit pass and got the puck to Mikey McLeod in the middle of the ice for a good look on goal. It didn’t go, of course, but there was a big rebound on the doorstep for Nathan Bastian to bang in.

The second goal was very comparable. Kevin Bahl used his reach to jump up and hold the offensive blue line. He hammered the puck towards the goal and there was again a big rebound, which the Devils did a great job of jumping on.

Jesper Boqvist’s goal was more of a skill play but – surprise! – it once again came on a turnover as Vegas attempted to exit the zone.

The Devils were never going to out-skill the Golden Knights and win off transition. They didn’t try to; they just stuck to their assignments and capitalized on the mistakes Vegas made.