G30 New Jersey Devils @ Ottawa Senators: Finish plays off
The Devils have struggled to convert on their chances this season. Could that change against the league's worst goaltender by Goals Saved Above Expected?
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The New Jersey Devils will look to snap their five-game losing skid Tuesday night in Ottawa.
Here are a few notes to get you set for the matchup with the Senators:
Finish plays off 🥅
The Devils are not exactly good at capitalizing on their chances at 5v5, having outscored only the Kraken in that game state.
They rank 31st in both high-danger shooting percentage and total shooting percentage, lacking the ability to convert at a respectable rate.
That has to change because the Devils likely won’t have enough opportunities to win on volume.
Ottawa is a very good defensive team and all of their 5v5 metrics are trending in the right direction. They rank 6th in shot share, 4th in shot suppression, and 2nd in expected goals against over the past 10 games.
Zooming out, the Senators look to be defending well as a whole. They’ve allowed 27 shots or fewer in eight of their last 10.
Only in a pair of road games against Vegas and St. Louis – one of which went to a shootout – did they concede 28+ shots.
I have a hard time believing the Devils will pile up the chances, especially without Jack Hughes. They will need to be abnormally opportunistic.
The one thing working in their favor: Linus Ullmark has struggled this year, ranking dead last in Goals Saved Above Expected (-10.1).
Gotta take advantage.
