Penguins 4, Devils 1: Same story, different day
A lack of finishing once again plagued the Devils in another divisional loss.
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The New Jersey Devils suffered their third straight inner-division loss against a team above them in the standings, this time falling at the hands of the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Let’s get into it.
Same story, different day 📖
Sheldon Keefe noted in his post-game availability that the Devils actually did some good things and had plenty of looks in the 1st and 3rd periods. Truth be told, he’s not wrong.
The Devils generated plenty of quality chances in the opening frame – and it was their best players taking them.
Arseny Gritsyuk and Dawson Mercer connected on a couple of slick passing plays that led to Mercer, one goal back of the team-lead, getting great chances coming downhill.
Jesper Bratt, whose scoring highlight reel almost entirely consists of breakaways and shootout goals, was stopped point blank on a breakaway.
Nico Hischier found open space all alone in the slot and hit Stuart Skinner in the crest of his jersey.
Meanwhile, the Penguins were able to convert on one of their few chances and exited the period with a lead.
The Devils had plenty of looks in the final frame as well but, after no-showing in the 2nd, it was very much a case of too little too late.
Back to the initial point. Keefe was right in what he said. It doesn’t matter, though. Those chances mean nothing if they’re not converted upon and, at this rate, any sort of praise for team performance is falling on deaf ears.
Nobody cares if the Devils did some good things but the goals, again, didn’t follow. Nobody cares if the team did some good things but, again, the score suggested otherwise.
Sports are a results based business and the Devils aren’t getting results. They haven’t been for months.
Despite their hot start to the season, they rank last in the Eastern Conference in goals, goal differential, and are ahead of only the Columbus Blue Jackets in regulation wins.
Clearly, the process can’t be that good.
