New Jersey Devils notes: On slow starts, Hughes/Bratt, and the goaltending picture

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A few thoughts following New Jersey’s 5-1 defeat at the hands of the Dallas Stars:

Slow starts continue to be problematic

Be it poor play, poor goaltending, or a combination of the two, the Devils have fallen behind the 8-ball early and often this season.

While they did some good things in the opening frame last night, the reality is they conceded a goal on the very first shift of the game and were down by three after 20 minutes. At home. To a team in the latter half of a road back-to-back.

It doesn’t much matter who you point the finger at. Could Akira Schmid have been better? Absolutely. Could the defense have been better? Absolutely. Would it be nice for the forwards to actually convert on any of the chances? Absolutely. There’s plenty of blame to go around.

Every team will come out of the gate slow on occasion. But this is a very consistent problem for the Devils.

Only the Arizona Coyotes have allowed more 1st period goals per game than the Devils. That’s right; even tanking sides like the Buffalo Sabres have been (slightly) more stout in the opening frame.

Falling behind wouldn’t be as destructive if the Devils had the raw firepower to claw their way back into games. Sadly, they do not.

That’s why they’ve won just two of 16 games they’ve trailed after 20. That’s why, since the beginning of last season, they’ve won four of 38 games (10.5%) when behind following P1.

For perspective of how unfathomably bad that is, the Seattle Kraken have three wins when trailing after 20. They’re one comeback win behind New Jersey and they’ve played *checks notes* 55 fewer games in that span.

As a whole, they have to find a way to start on time or the second half promises to be as miserable – or more – than the first 41 games we’ve seen.