The New Jersey Devils concluded their preseason in fine fashion on Friday night as they came from behind in the 3rd period en route to a 3-2 shootout win over the Philadelphia Flyers.
Some thoughts on what we saw this preseason plus other Devils tidbits:
- I predicted Jacob Josefson would breakout this season and early on it looks like he's ready to do just that. Josefson has been playing more minutes than we've seen in the past and he has rewarded John Hynes for his trust in him with three points, eight shots and a shootout winner in five games. With Patrik Elias out of the lineup I wouldn't be surprised if Josefson started the season centering Adam Henrique and Kyle Palmieri (assuming he's healthy) on the 2nd line.
- John Moore is another guy I've been impressed with this preseason. Logging pretty big minutes he has fared well in possession - he had an 89CF%(!) last night - and has also contributed offensively with 12 shots and three points in four games. He's been very active from the back end and is a guy I think will benefit greatly from John Hynes' up-tempo, aggressive system.
- After playing 10 minutes against the Flyers in the first half of a home-and-home and sitting the latter half out as a healthy scratch I think the writing is on the wall for Pavel Zacha. He hasn't been bad by any means but to me he doesn't look like he can handle any more than 10-12 protected minutes a night. I think sending him back to a solid Sarnia team and allowing him to play big minutes in all situations would be best for his development and I think that's what the Devils will do.
- Travis Zajac has had a solid preseason and has chipped in a goal, an assist, and an empty-netter over his last two contests. Hopefully he can continue to produce when the games begin to count.
Prospect Updates - Mackenzie Blackwood is off to an incredible start with Barrie this season. Through four games (in order) he has stopped 42-45, 44-44, 39-40 and 25-26 respectively. That's 150-155 which is good for an absurd .968 save percentage. I'm not sure there's a better goaltender in the OHL.
- Defenseman Josh Jacobs had a shot and four penalty minutes in Sarnia's 5-4 loss to North Bay. He has one point through four games thus far.
- Defenseman Colton White had a goal and a pair of shots in Sault Ste. Marie's 8-4 stomping over the Guelph Storm on Friday night. White has a goal and three assists in three games.
- Sticking with the Soo, forward Blake Speers chipped in with three assists and five shots on goal in the blowout victory.
- John Quenneville made his season debut for Brandon and had an assist in their 3-2 loss to Calgary.
- In Albany Joseph Blandisi continues to light it up as he scored the lone goal in a 2-1 loss. Including NHL preseason Blandisi is on a four-game point streak tallying two goals and five points in that span. If he keeps playing like this he won't have to wait much longer for a shot with the big club.
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