G67 New Jersey Devils vs. Edmonton Oilers: Back to their ways

The Devils appear to be finding their defensive footing after hitting a bit of a rut.

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Here are a few notes to get you set for tonight’s game between the New Jersey Devils and Edmonton Oilers:

Finding their footing 👣

To say there was a big drop-off in defensive play after losing Jonas Siegenthaler would be an understatement. For a spell, the Devils legitimately went from one of the best defensive teams in the NHL to one of the worst.

Thanks in part to the Brian Dumoulin acquisition – although we started to see some improvement prior – the Devils appear to be returning to their old ways.

The Devils have quietly allowed 25 shots or fewer in five of their last six games. The lone exception came against the Winnipeg Jets, who just so happened to be tied for 1st in the NHL in points.

I’m not saying they’ve been perfect – some noticeable mistakes have still popped up on occasion. But, by and large, the Devils have played with more structure and been able to suck a lot of the life out of opposing offenses.

They’re hitting their stride at the right time because the Oilers are the last team you want to play leaky defense against (no pun intended).

The Oilers are the pace-car for the league in shots per game while sitting 9th in goals. Led by Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, the Oilers can turn an inch into a mile and expose even the smallest of mistakes.

The Devils have played connected, structured hockey and (mostly) managed the puck well of late. They need that to continue tonight.

Tee off 🏌️‍♂️