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After scoring just nine seconds into the game, and jumping out to a 3-1 lead, the Devils completely folded and were embarrassed to the tune of 8-3 while allowing seven unanswered in the process.
10 takeaways:
1. I'll start with the positives, I guess, because there weren't many of them. I thought Jacob Josefson played his best game of the season, and one of the best of his career. The Devils generated 70% of the shot attempts with him on the ice at even strength, he scored a beautiful short-handed goal and also drew a penalty while playing over 12 minutes. He's been very good since stepping into the lineup for Jordin Tootoo, and he should remain in the lineup as long as he's playing like this. Josefson's the much better player.
2. All of Ruutu - Josefson - Gionta were at least 50% possession players, and they combined for two goals and two assists. They've been very good since being put together and, again, they should stay together as long as they're playing well.
3. Damon Severson played another sound game. He made good outlets, created offensively and was one of a few who didn't embarrass himself.
4. Last night's collapse was a group effort. Severson was given holding call on Evgeni Malkin, then late in the kill the Devils were called for too many men. They allowed a goal and it snowballed from there. Travis Zajac had a brutal turnover that led to a goal against. Jon Merrill was torched repeatedly. Severson made an outlet pass that broke Boucher's stick. The Penguins picked up the pick, passed it up ice and scored immediately after. Cory Schneider didn't play well. Scott Clemmensen didn't play well. It was a complete suck fest, really, and a missed opportunity to pick up at least a point against a division rival in their building.
5. Jon Merrill and Eric Gelinas need to be broken up. I'm usually not one to make a big deal of handedness, but those two don't seem to mesh well together with one playing on their off side. After how Merrill played in Pittsburgh, I wouldn't mind putting Adam Larsson with Gelinas on Thursday.
6. New Jersey's team defense as a whole right now is bad. I mean, really bad. They're averaging almost 33 shots against per game, and are allowing 3+ goals against as a result. Philadelphia, LA, Colorado, Ottawa and Buffalo are the only teams allowing more shots on a nightly basis.
7. When your penalty kill is playing terribly, it's probably not a good idea to take seven penalties, especially when the team you're up against is clicking at over 40%. There's just no way Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and co. don't make you pay when they all get over seven minutes of power play time.
8. Marc-Andre Fleury wasn't playing very well last night, but it didn't really matter because a) the Devils allowed a billion goals and; b) they only had 19 shots. Hard to beat a team like Pittsburgh being outshot 33-19.
9. I'm not a big fan of +/-, but Andy Greene was somehow plus-3 in an 8-3 loss. That's hard to do.
10. Olli Maatta looked pretty good, huh? He had an assist, did some good work on the PK and played almost 20 minutes while knowing he has a potentially cancerous tumor that needs to be treated. From everything I've heard about those who covered him with the London Knights and now the Penguins he's about as nice of a guy as you'll meet. All the best to him.
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