G2 New Jersey Devils vs Detroit Red Wings: Time to rebound

Vitek Vanecek is expected to get the nod in goal as the Devils look to respond following a disappointing season opener.

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A few notes to get you set for New Jersey’s home opener against Detroit:

Get to Nedeljkovic

Alex Nedeljkovic is not the goaltender people thought he’d be after a strong rookie season in Carolina; at least he wasn’t last year in Detroit.

Among all goaltenders to appear in at least 30 games, Nedeljkovic ranked 32nd in Goals Saved Above Expected (-6.9). That slotted him just below Mikko Koskinen, who essentially played his way out of the NHL with his inconsistencies in Edmonton.

That’s why the Red Wings went out and spent on Ville Husso, and that’s why the latter was the team’s opening night starter. Nedeljkovic is the clear 2nd option.

New Jersey now draws Ned playing behind an improved – but flawed – Red Wings team in the latter half of a road back-to-back. They really need to test him.

While the Devils clearly controlled much of the game against the Flyers, and did start to break them down with more regularity down the stretch, they didn’t do a good enough job at getting to the middle of the ice.

Ray Ferraro mentioned that a few times during the broadcast. There was too much perimeter play.

The Devils have a lot of guys who make their living around the paint – Ondrej Palat, Dawson Mercer, Erik Haula, Miles Wood etc. – and they need them to do a better job of getting to those spots.

If they can, the chances will come; either from the Devils’ top facilitators finding the open lane to get them the puck, or from being in the right spot to collect rebounds.

Nedeljkovic gives up a lot of them; only six goaltenders faced more rebound attempts at 5v5 a season ago.