G81 New Jersey Devils @ Boston Bruins: Sharpen the edges

Notes on a declining penalty kill, snapping some slumps, and more to get you set for the penultimate game of the season.

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The New Jersey Devils play their penultimate game of the regular season tonight in Boston. Here are a few notes to get you set for it:

Sharpen the edges 🔪

New Jersey’s penalty kill has excelled for much of the season. Although they’ve only conceded in one of the past six games, their underlying numbers are trending in the wrong direction.

The Devils sit 15th in goals against, 22nd in expected goals against, and 23rd in high-danger chances against per 60 minutes over the last 10 games. Those are not horrible numbers but they aren’t good, either, and don’t hold a candle to the outputs they’ve managed all year long.

The Devils struggle to score at 5v5 and that’s unlikely to change against a fierce defensive side like the Hurricanes. That means special teams will be of the utmost importance in their 1st round series.

Given as much, I would really like to see the Devils sharpen up on the penalty kill and finish the season on a high while undermanned.

While Boston is not a lethal power play team by any means, they do have one of the best weapons in the league in David Pastrnak. Slowing him down on the PP would be a good sign.

No-event hockey 🛑