Four New Jersey Devils thoughts to start 2022

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Today’s post was written by ALEX CHAUVANCY. You can find Alex on Twitter @AlexC_THW.

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It's been a bleak 2021-22 season for the New Jersey Devils up until this point. But they closed out the calendar year 2021 with consecutive wins and are only three points out of fifth place in the Metropolitan Division.

I'm not talking about a playoff run or anything close to that. However, the goal of playing meaningful games is still within reach.

Here are four observations from their recent run of games that they can build on heading into the new year to help them get closer to that goal:

Don't break up Hughes and Sharangovich

Sure, Jack Hughes has only played in 15 of the Devils' 31 games after dislocating his shoulder only four periods into the season. But it still took way too long for Devils head coach Lindy Ruff to reunite him with Yegor Sharangovich. That move has paid off. Hughes has six points in his last two games while Sharangovich has three. 

Hughes and Sharangovich were among the Devils' best players against the Sabres. The Devils had a 20-7 shot attempt advantage with those two on the ice, as well as an expected goals percentage (xG%) of 83.35 percent. It was much of the same against the Oilers, too, as Sharangovich and Hughes led the team in Corsi for percentage (CF%) and had xG shares above 60 percent. 

It wasn't uncommon for those two to have similar performances during the 2020-21 season. Though Jesper Bratt has played a significant part on a line with Hughes and Sharangovich, there's no doubt the latter two have chemistry. They showed it last season. And their numbers together at five-on-five in 2021-22 – though in a small sample size – show the same: 

Not only do Sharangovich's numbers improve with Hughes as a linemate, but Hughes' on-ice results take a noticeable jump with Sharangovich as well. The two just complement each other well. Hughes' creativity can create space and shooting lanes for Sharangovich just like this:

This isn't the shot that led to Hughes' goal against the Sabres (it was just moments before). Ater Hughes comes away with the puck from Bratt along the boards, he quickly feeds Sharangovich, who fires a one-timer on goal that Ukko-Pekka Luokkonen had to make a save on. Hughes would score seconds later off another Sharangovich one-timer, courtesy of a shot assist from Bratt. That's the kind of thing the Devils have been missing from Sharangovich all season.

He'll likely find that consistency alongside Hughes. Don't break them up, especially if Bratt is their linemate.