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Devils' Offense Disappears In Loss To Blue Jackets

October 23, 2013, 11:08 AM ET [76 Comments]
Todd Cordell
New Jersey Devils Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
After picking up their first win of the season against the Rangers in undoubtedly their best effort of the season, the New Jersey Devils traveled to Columbus and laid an egg.

The Devils scored the opening goal of the game before allowing four consecutive goals and falling 4-1 to a divisional opponent in the Blue Jackets.

Michael Ryder was the lone goal scorer for the Devils while Brandon Dubinsky, Cam Atkinson, James Wisniewski and Marian Gaborik filled the net for Columbus.

Some thoughts:

- You can blame the defense all you want, but at some point the offense needs to step up. They have found twine just seven times in their last four games and that includes a four-goal performance against the Rangers. The defense takes most of the heat, but through nine games the Devils have scored 18 goals. You're not going to win many games with an offense like that.

- Despite their abundance of losses, the special teams are one positive of late. Their penalty kill unit has killed off 11 of the 12 penalties taken and they've scored a power play goal in three straight games. If only they could generate anything during 5 v. 5 play.

- They only accounted for one goal and it was on the power play, but I thought Travis Zajac and Ryder were very good once again. Zajac had a few glorious chances and won over 50% of his faceoffs while Ryder had five shots and scored the lone goal. The two combined to be on the ice for 36 shot attempts for and just 12 against during 5 v. 5 play. Not bad.

- Speaking of Zajac, people need to lay off him a bit. I understand he's being paid big money and should be producing more, but you have to understand the situation. He's facing ridiculously tough competition every night and for the most part he has held his own. Sure, he's not putting up a lot of points right now, but he's generating chances. They production will pick up. On top of that, he's being deployed in the worst way possible to help him generate offense. For example, last night he had one offensive zone start, five starts in the neutral zone and seven defensive zone starts.

- I continue to be disappointed by Andrei Loktionov. He is an unbelievably skilled player but he's so inconsistent and hasn't been able to generate near as much offense as he should. Almost every night he is getting crushed in the faceoff circle, his defensive zone play is mediocre and he only has two points in eight games. That's not good enough.

- One positive of late has been the play of Jaromir Jagr. The future Hall of Famer has three points in his last two games and six over his last seven. If he continues to produce like this, the Devils may be able to get a solid return for him at the deadline if they're out of the playoff hunt.

- Wasn't overly impressed with Cory Schneider against Columbus. He wasn't bad, but three goals on 23 shots isn't going to cut it when you're between the pipes for a one win team.

- The Devils are back in action Thursday against the Canucks and they desperately need a win. I fear one or two more consecutive losses may end the Pete DeBoer era in New Jersey. Let's hope that theory isn't tested.

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