Five thoughts on the New Jersey Devils' turbulent weekend

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By Alex Chauvancy (@AlexC_THW)

It was not a good weekend for New Jersey Devils by any stretch. They got off to a strong start against the Florida Panthers, taking a 6-2 lead before imploding in the third period and falling in overtime after giving up five unanswered goals.

They started slowly against the New York Islanders before rallying to make it a one-goal game in the third period. It was too little, too late at that point. 

Much of what has cost the Devils games this season cost them this weekend. Without improved goaltending, it's essentially weathering the storm until the final buzzer sounds on the 2021-22 campaign. With that said, there was *some* good to come out of the weekend. 

Disaster vs. the Panthers

Let's get the bad out of the way first. The Devils have found different ways to lose this season. When you think they can't find another way to lose, they find another way to lose; as was the case against the Panthers. Most teams would be comfortable heading into the final frame with a 6-2 lead...most teams. 

For the first 40 minutes, the Devils were undoubtedly the better squad. They finished the first two periods with an expected goals share of 57.7 percent and held the Panthers to only 0.97 expected goals at five-on-five. Considering the Panthers are one of the best offensive teams in the league, that's a job well done. 

Things quickly unraveled in the third. The Panthers scored to make it 6-3 moments after going emptyhanded on a power play, and that's when it went south for the Devils. Florida had an xG of 1.41 at five-on-five and 1.89 at all strengths for the period. The Devils were bleeding chances and couldn't do anything to slow the Panthers down.

Of course, the Devils' goaltending reared its ugly head again. Yes, they were thoroughly outplayed in the third, but they shouldn't have had four goals go against them. Andrew Hammond gave up 3.99 goals above expected, and he should have stopped all of the Panthers' final four goals of the game. 

Hammond doesn't deserve all the blame because the Devils couldn't do anything to take the pressure off him in the third, but goaltending was again a significant factor in the loss. It was a perfect storm of everything that could go wrong going wrong, which has happened too many times this season.