G57 New Jersey Devils vs Colorado Avalanche: High octane hockey
G57 New Jersey Devils vs Colorado Avalanche: High octane hockey
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A few notes to get you set for tonight’s clash between the New Jersey Devils and the powerhouse Colorado Avalanche:
High octane hockey
The Colorado Avalanche only play one way and it’s full steam ahead. Despite the overwhelming amount of injuries they’ve dealt with to key players all season long, the Avalanche have generated more shot attempts and scored more goals than all but the Florida Panthers. They average – yes, average – nearly four goals per game. Ridiculous.
What’s impressive about the Avalanche is they have a way of pulling you into their style of game whether you want to or not. Last night, for example, they combined for 85 shots and nine goals in a game against the New York Islanders.
‘The Islanders aren’t themselves this year’, you may be thinking. That’s true to an extent. But, even after having their numbers crushed last night, they’ve only allowed 52 attempts and 2.28 xGA per 60 over their last 10 home dates. Win or lose, they’ve been playing slow, low-event hockey; until they were pulled into a track meet with the Avalanche.
New Jersey ranks top-10 in expected goal generation and no team has scored more goals per minute over the last 10 games.
Unless goaltending completely blows them out of the water – very possible – the Devils should be able to hold their own in this fast-paced affair.
Dougie SZN
Dougie Hamilton didn’t look himself prior to leaving the lineup with a broken jaw. His impacts were down and he just seemed to be missing a little something.
It appears possible, if not likely, he still wasn’t 100% from the injury he suffered earlier on in the year. Why? Well, he has been a completely different player since breaking his jaw; which provided significant time off to heel all ailments.
Is it possible Hamilton has benefited from the Devils being generally healthier as a whole? Absolutely, although I don’t think that can explain such a drastic difference in performance. Whatever the case may be, Dougie is back and firing on all cylinders right now.
He should be able to make some noise against an Avalanche team that quietly gives up a lot to opposing defenders.
Only six teams – Buffalo, Arizona, Ottawa, and Columbus being among them – have allowed more shots per game to blueliners this season.
Dougie is as trigger happy as anybody, and always looking to get up in the play, so this matchup plays into his hands.
Levelling the playing field
Beating the Avalanche at 5v5 is going to be difficult. They are loaded with star players, their team speed is almost unmatched, and they have a big edge in goal – no matter who the Devils trot out there.
That makes special teams of the utmost importance. In particular, the power play. It just so happens there’s reason for optimism in terms of making up ground in that way.
The Avalanche are struggling mightily to kill penalties. Over the last 10 games, they rank 30th in attempts against/60, 29th in expected goals against/60, and have given up high-danger chances at a higher rate than all but the Vancouver Canucks.
They can be exploited by almost anybody, which we saw again last night. The New York Islanders – sans Mathew Barzal – netted two power play markers and scored another with the goalie pulled.
I think success on the power play is New Jersey’s best path to victory. Let’s hope they realize that and do everything they can to optimize their time on the man advantage; such as playing Hamilton on the top unit.
Finnishing plays
The Devils don’t see the Avalanche very often. Thanks to COVID, they’ve met only once since 2020.
Mikko Rantanen netted a hat trick in that game while logging fewer than 15 minutes of ice.
There’s plenty of reason to be concerned about Rantanen having another huge night; and not because of the team’s goaltending woes.
New Jersey has been absolutely decimated by right wingers all season long. No matter how bad you’re thinking, it is worse.
Only three teams have conceded more shots to the position while nobody has done a worse job of keeping right wingers off the scoresheet.
Think of the top right wingers in the sport. Names like Mitch Marner, Patrick Kane, David Pastrnak, and Nikita Kucherov will come to mind. It just so happens they’ve all exploited the Devils in their meetings.
The Devils have seen Marner twice. He put up three goals, seven points, and nine shots in those games. Kane? Six points, a hat trick, and 13 shots through two meetings. Pastrnak? He scored in the lone matchup vs the Devils. Kucherov? One goal, one assist, five shots; again in just one game.
Yes, great players produce against most teams. But the Devils seem to provide ceiling games for star right wingers every time they face one.
Don’t be surprised if Rantanen puts together a big night.
numbers via NaturalStatTrick.com and StatMuse.com