Lightning 4, Devils 3: Effort there, result not

The Devils looked like their usual selves on Thursday night. Unfortunately, it still wasn't enough to get a win.

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A few notes following another defeat at the hands of the Tampa Bay Lightning:

Timo Meier has arrived

In the game preview, I talked at length about why Meier was going to break out sooner rather than later; and the fun could commence as early as Thursday night against the Lightning.

That sure proved to be the case as he went full Meier Mode™ for the first time as a member of the Devils. They dominated the run of play with him on the ice at 5v5, controlling 65% of the expected goal share against one of the league’s top teams.

Meier had the counting stats to go with it, generating eight shot attempts, four scoring chances, and a pair of crucial goals across all situations.

He bounced around the lineup quite a bit, skating at least a couple shifts at 5v5 with five different forwards. It didn’t seem to matter; the Devils tilted the ice regardless.

What I loved most about Meier’s game – beyond him contributing in every aspect (he even landed three hits) – was that he had that dynamic flare to him.

He was playing with confidence, he wanted the puck, and he was trying to put it through the boards every time he was set up for a shot on the man advantage.

I still don’t really know why Ruff went full blender mode (Meier had a 69 xGF% alongside Bratt before the plug was pulled) at even-strength but it was great to see a) Meier put his stamp all over the game and; b) the Devils start to figure out the best way to use him, especially on the man advantage.

While Meier is not going to pot a pair of goals every night, he’s been a point per game guy for years and is one of the league’s best chance generators. This kind of effort and involvement is going to be the norm for him. He has arrived.