On Monday the New Jersey Devils hosted a struggling Florida Panthers team that has been decimated by injuries.
Despite that the Devils, who are desperate for points, not only lost the game but were shutout in the process.
A few notes:
1) I don't remember a time this season where the Devils' offense was consistently good, but they seem to have hit a new low of late. They've scored just three times over the last three times and have looked lifeless at times, especially on the power play.
Though the shot totals haven't been too low, there haven't really been many challenging sequences for opposing goaltenders where I'd wonder to myself how the puck stayed out. Most shots seem to be low percentage looks from the outside, without traffic, etc.
2) Hall had a 'quiet' game by his perspective but he still managed to get six shots on goal and the Devils out-chanced the Cats 7-2 with him on the ice at 5v5. Pucks aren't going in for him right now, but he's putting up big shot numbers. If that continues they should start to go sooner or later.
Also, I kind of feel bad for him. Right now he just isn't getting much help. The offense seems to be dish it to Hall and let him do the rest, which is tough considering he gets extra attention to begin with. So many times the Devils forced passes to him on the outside and he was poke checked, hit, etc. before he could even get going.
3) Steve Santini didn't get much ice -- he played fewer minutes than every defenseman in the lineup -- but I thought he looked good when he was out there. He was very physical but, most importantly, he didn't really take himself out of position to throw the body. Santini also made smart decisions with the puck and stayed calm under pressure.
In particular, I liked a play where he started skating up ice, didn't like his options, regrouped, and made a perfect stretch pass to Bennett while the Panthers were changing.
Like this play from Santini. Doesn't like look, regroups, and catches the Panthers on a change. pic.twitter.com/XzqA4bFkvL
— Todd Cordell (@ToddCordell) January 10, 2017
4) Cory Schneider has posted a .953 save percentage or better in four of his last five starts and has allowed just seven goals (1.4 per game) in that span. He seems to have found his game.
5) The Devils are last in the conference in points percentage in seven of their next eight games are against teams currently sitting in a playoff spot. If they're not already out of it, they surely will be when this stretch concludes.