Three New Year's resolutions for the New Jersey Devils

From stronger starts to upgrading in goal, these changes could help the Devils get the most out of what's been a disappointing season thus far.

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New year, new resolutions! Everyone makes them when it comes time to flip the calendar – even if the desire isn’t always there to follow through.

Based on the way things have gone for the New Jersey Devils this season, there should be real urgency to change for the better.

Here are a few ways they could go about it.

Find success early

The Devils have the 3rd best win percentage in the league when conceding first. Only the Dallas Stars and New York Rangers have fared better when falling behind from the get go.

Unlike those two teams, the Devils still find themselves on the outside of the playoff picture looking in.

Why? Because they concede first all the time. More than anybody, in fact.

No, allowing the game’s opening goal isn’t a nail in the coffin for the Devils or any other team; scoring the second goal of the game actually carries a very similar importance level as the first.

But there’s a reason only two teams have won even half of the time when the ice is broken against them.

By conceding the first goal of the game, you’re essentially putting your hopes for the night on getting the next one. A 2016 study by Hockey-Graphs showed that teams able to jump out to 2-0 leads have won more than 80% of their games.

The Devils haven’t just been bad at scoring the opener this season. They’ve been dreadful. And by failing to start off on the right foot so consistently, the Devils are often putting themselves in situations where their chances of success all but evaporate if they don’t get the next goal.

They need to find ways to get ahead more consistently and force other teams to press with the knowledge there’s an 8-in-10 chance the game is over if the lead grows to two.

Upgrade in goal