Since the San Jose blunder, which is looking a little less awful since the Sharks have skated to a few more impressive victories of their own, the Devils have rebounded with wins against Vancouver and Seattle.
The team is now 5-1 in its last six games since the captain returned from injury. Perhaps most importantly, the Devils most recent win featured the best goaltending performance of the season, something this club was desperate to get.
Despite not playing their best hockey, Akira Schmid bailed the team out in Seattle, making 37/38 saves. For the first time this season, the Devils received big, timely saves, and were benefactors of a goalie stealing a win.
Obviously, you always want the team to play up to its standard, but I think Devils fans were relieved to see a win like that take place, as the team has been unable to keep the puck out of its net, hang on to leads, or close games out this season. Schmid was able to supply all of that, slowing the Kracken’s momentum and stymieing their attack when it mattered most.
The reality is that over an 82-game season, good teams have to find different ways to win games. You can’t simply outscore your shitty defense and goaltending every single night – you need wins on the backs of individual performances, and that includes your goaltenders stealing a game here and there.
It was vastly different win and a far cry from the Hughes Bowl, which took place in Vancouver two nights before, where the Devils potent offense was on full display, but Vitek Vanecek and the Devils defense were unable to shut down the opponent, surrendering a 5-2 lead in the 3rd period before Jesper Bratt played hero with a 6th goal in the final 30 seconds.
Trade rumors have continued to heat up as well, as GM Tom Fitzgerald continues to scour the market for upgrades to defenders and goaltenders alike. The names mentioned in my last blog have all been linked to the Devils in some form or fashion by media members, though Fitzy provided some clarity that, with the arrival of Simon Nemec, they prefer to add a ‘stabilizer’ on the backend if possible, rather than a puck mover or offensive catalyst to replace what is lost by the Hamilton injury.
That potentially indicates a more aggressive pursuit of a guy like Chris Tanev.
Speaking of Nemec, the rookie defender scored his first NHL goal in just his 3rd game against Seattle, which turned out to be the game winner for the Devils. He continues to look confident and is fitting like a glove in the top 4, which is about as ideal a scenario the Devils brass could have hoped for in debuting the blue-chip prospect.
For fun, let’s say the Devils secure Tanev’s services. How might the blue line look? With Tanev a right-handed shot, wearing #8, perhaps a bit like this?
71-17
88-6
43-8
This gives Luke Hughes a true, proper veteran, stabilizing, defensive stalwart to skate alongside.
Alternatively, the team could opt to put Tanev with Siegenthaler as a ‘shut-down’ pair, move Luke next to Marino in what I think is a great pairing that hasn’t gotten enough usage this season, and let Nemec skate with one of Bahl/Miller/Smith.
When/if Dougie is able to come back, I think Bahl becomes the odd man out, and you can feature one of Hamilton/Hughes/Nemec on any of the 3 pairs for puck moving, offensive prowess.
Time will tell. In the meantime, the Devils will get a nice look at Chris Tanev as a member of the Flames today in the first leg of their back-to-back games in Alberta today and tomorrow to close out this western road trip.
Both of these games will be a challenge. Calgary has struggled and just lost their star netminder, Jacob Markstrom, to injury. On paper, this should be a game the Devils can handle – which is exactly what worries me. With the surging hot, Connor McDavid-lead Oilers on tap for tomorrow, it’s easy for the team and fans look past this one. Blake Coleman and Yegor Sharangovich will likely both be eager for a revenge game against the club that drafted them.
My assumption would be that Schmid gets the call again today in net, which leaves the Devils in an interesting spot tomorrow. If Schmid plays well again, do you start him for a 3rd consecutive game over a four-day span? Or do you go to Vanecek and hope for the best against an offensively dynamic team like the Oilers? OR, do you go Vanecek today in a game that should be “easier” and save Schmid for tomorrow?
Personally, I wouldn’t overthink it and I’d roll Schmid today, deal with Oilers decisions tomorrow, which is what I would expect from Lindy & Co.
Either way, should be a fun weekend of games. Would be a huge boost and driver of momentum if the Devils can return home with another four points, which would put them at 31 points and 2nd in the Metro, without adjusting for any outcomes for other teams playing this weekend.
Let’s hope the team can build on a strong defensive and goaltending performance.
Let’s Go Devils!
Word Of The Devil 