The Devils came into Thursday night's game at The Rock with a great chance to right the ship and regain some confidence on offense against the Predators. Goaltender Justus Annunen got the start for Nashville, 0-3-0 with a 5.10GAA and .840 SV% against New Jersey in his career, yet the Devils still struggled to generate offense and light the lamp.
NJ looked good early, despite giving up a goal on the first chance of the game for the second straight night. The Devils amassed double digit shots in the first ten or so minutes of play. Then Jack Hughes left the ice...then he returned, only to leave for good. From there the Devils mustered just one more shot on goal in the first period, looking again like the scared team that can't preform without their star. Just three shifts and 2:27 TOI, and number 86 was 86'd for the night and most likely the next one with Ottawa on Saturday.
In the second, the game seemed to fall into a familiar pattern. The Devils struggled to bury pucks, and it appeared as if they gave up the next they'd be done. However one of the few bright spots in recent games, Lenni Hameenaho fed Dougie Hamilton to extend his scroing streak to nine straight(I never thought I'd type anything like ever again)to knot the game just over halfway through. But the Devils will Devil, and Dougie will Dougie. Hamilton coughed up a puck(I did think I'd type something like this again)in his own end that went right to Nashville's Adam Wilsby who dished it to Filip Forsberg who gave the Preds the early third period lead.
This, as all games going forward for Jersey will be, was the biggest game of their season. They don't start it on time, and surrender an early goal. The third period, their biggest period of the season to date, they don't start that on time either and an egregious Hamilton turnover causes them to fall behind again. It's the inexcusable stuff like this that drives us all crazy as fans and makes me think barring any major moves, this team has no shot at serious contention.
The Devils would have some good fortune however. Fortunate that they were playing one of the few teams with a worse record, a goaltender who had only won four of his 16 starts, and that old Jesper Bratt came to visit for about ten seconds in the third. The Elizabeth Smart of Devils hockey tied it for NJ with a brilliant and patient(seems like he has waited four months to do this) dangle, which I did not think would be enough to get them to overtime, but it was.
In OT the Captain Nico Hischier stepped into a slapper from the top of the circle, seemingly with all of the pent up frustration of this roller coaster season and blasted it top corner for the win. The Devils escaped with two points keeping their season alive for now...
Put a pitchfork in this one.
Jack Hughes Injury Update
The only update from Sheldon Keefe today was that there is no update. Further imaging is required. Reportedly team USA management has said they do not deem the injury serious. Fingers crossed here, as Jack is undoubtedly the only air in the New Jersey Devils balloon...
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