After dropping the first three games of the season - and scoring just five goals in the process - the New Jersey Devils were blessed with the daunting task of trying to right the ship against former coach Pete DeBoer and the San Jose Sharks.
They were unsuccessful in doing so as the Devils managed to beat the league's hottest goaltender, Martin Jones, just once before eventually falling 2-1 in a shootout.
Some thoughts on New Jersey's fourth consecutive loss:
1) The Devils had their chances but once again failed to accomplish anything at full-strength. Through four games the Devils have just one(!!) goal during 5 vs 5 play which gives them a league-worst .25 goals per game in that situation. They're going to lose a ton of games if they can't get going at evens and there's nothing to suggest they won't be a bottom-5 team in that regard.
2) I think Adam Henrique played one of the best games of his career. He scored the team's only goal in regulation, the team's only shootout goal and had a game-high seven shots on goal while logging almost 24 minutes of ice. His line as a whole was good but I thought he was the best of the bunch. Hopefully for the Devils this is a sign of things to come.
3) Where would this team be without Cory Schneider? He stopped 33-34 and that was barely enough for the Devils to pick up one point in the standings. I don't know what else he could possibly do.
4) Damon Severson had a couple hiccups throughout but overall I thought he was pretty good. He was skating well and for the most part was efficient in rushing/moving the puck up ice. No. 28 had a pair of shots and the primary assist on Henrique's goal to show for his efforts.
5) Jacob Josefson led the Devils with almost six minutes (5:51) on the man advantage. No other Devil played more than five minutes. John Hynes and the coaching staff are really giving him every opportunity to succeed offensively.
Prospect Updates
- Pavel Zacha had a solid night at the office for Sarnia as he scored and recorded six shots in a 5-2 Sarnia win. His teammate and fellow Devils prospect Josh Jacobs chipped in offensively with a pair of assists and three shots from the back end.
- Blake Speers and Colton White, who were squaring off against Zacha, Jacobs and the Sting, were both held pointless for the Greyhounds in the loss.
- Connor Chatham had a strong game for Flint as he scored the game-winning-goal and recorded an assist in a 7-4 win. He's up to three goals and seven points in nine games this season.
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