Five fun facts - New Jersey Devils edition

With the Devils in the midst of an extended pause, I thought it'd be fun to look at some crazy - but true - stats from the unofficial first half of the season.

Follow along on Twitter @ToddCordell | @InfernalAccess

Be sure to join the Discord channel to talk hockey, and everything else, with our writers and subscribers.

---

Next to nothing is happening in the NHL world right now. The trade deadline is still a month away, no games are being played, and half the league is currently sitting around on a beach sipping on Coronas.

With that in mind, I thought it’d be fun to take a look at some New Jersey Devils-centric stats/facts that – for one reason or another - really stood out to me.

Let’s dive right in.

1. Player X has 15 primary points at 5v5 this season and his team has controlled nearly 6% more of the high-danger chances without him on the ice. Player Y has 14 primary points at 5v5 this season and his team has controlled 7% more of the high-danger chances without him on the ice. The former primarily skates on a line with a borderline Hart Trophy candidate and was recently signed to a lucrative long-term extension. The latter plays with nothing but role players and has rightfully had his spot in the lineup questioned. If you’ve not yet figured out the players being referenced here, Player X is Pavel Zacha and Player Y is Miles Wood. This is not me suggesting Zacha is useless nor am I defending Wood’s spot in the lineup. It’s just crazy the difference a bunch of secondary assists – more than anybody in the league at 5v5 – and some fanfare can make in how people view players.