Wanna blog? Start your own hockey blog with My HockeyBuzz. Register for free today!
 

Canadiens 4, Devils 3: Unacceptable yet expected

February 5, 2020, 10:40 AM ET [45 Comments]
Todd Cordell
New Jersey Devils Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
Follow me on Twitter @ToddCordell

Five observations from New Jersey vs Montreal:

1. Blown lead unacceptable yet expected

The Devils held a 3-0 lead on home soil. Regardless of the circumstances, that is a game they have to win. I don’t care if a few key regulars are out of the lineup. I don’t care if the lead was undeserved. I don’t care if some of the goals never should have gone in (Miles Wood from a tough angle, Jesper Bratt on a completely whiffed shot). It really doesn’t matter how the lead was built. It only matters that the Devils had it. And they blew it.

You can pick argue about which play or player turned the tables and helped jumpstart Montreal’s comeback. It doesn’t really matter. What matters is a) the Devils blew a big lead and; b) they deserved to.

Attempts were 70-41 Montreal. Shots were 36-24 Montreal. Expected Goals were 4.1(!)-2.22 Montreal. They controlled the run of play, shot volume, and shot quality with very little pushback.

New Jersey paid the price for it.

2. Fire ‘em into the sun

There are bad games, and then there’s whatever it is we witnessed from Will Butcher and Mirco Mueller last night. They were on the receiving end of extra ice time with Sami Vatanen and P.K. Subban out of the lineup. They didn’t exactly handle it well.

Butcher and Mueller legitimately spent almost every shift chasing play in the defensive zone. It was bad. The Devils controlled just 22.22% of the attempts and 27.45% of the expected goals with that pairing on the ice.

While that duo did make a couple nice defensive plays throughout the game, it wasn’t because they were playing well. It was because they spent so much time in the defensive zone, and without the puck, that they were bound to make the occasional stick check to disarm an opposing player.

3. Jack Hughes didn’t spark the top line

Nor did it spark him. While Jesper Bratt, Kyle Palmieri and Hughes somehow combined for five points, they didn’t play overly well as a unit – especially at 5v5.

The Devils simply didn’t create opportunities when they were on the ice. At all. The trio combined for .18 expected goals at full-strength, which is essentially one good chance. It was hard for them to gain Montreal’s line and set up shop, let alone actually dissect the defense and generate a quality scoring looks.

I was hoping a rare top line role would get Hughes going. That wasn’t really the case, though. The drop off from Nico to Hughes was very evident.

4. Blake Coleman keeps on rolling

It wasn’t all bad last night. There were some quality performers, with Coleman probably standing out more than anyone. His drive was relentless, as always, and he was able to consistently find soft spots in Montreal’s defense. On a few different occasions he posted up in a soft area of the ice, the puck found his stick, and he was able to wire it towards the net.

Coleman didn’t convert on any of his looks, however, he mustered up a pair of assists to go along with game-highs in attempts (10), shots (8), and chances (6).

Win or lose, he continues to be a factor every night.

5. Damon Severson was strong

I figured Severson would see 25+ minutes with Vatanen and Subban out. He blew past that number, patrolling the ice for 29:24 in total. I thought he *mostly* handled it well.

Severson wasn’t out for a goal against at 5v5, which is impressive given how much he played. No. 28 was one of three Devils with a positive shot attempt differential, and his Expected Goals For% was nearly 70%. That’s remarkable given how the ice was largely tilted in Montreal’s favor throughout.

Severson was able to contribute offensively, hitting Kyle Palmieri with a backdoor pass on his first goal. He also set up a couple other chances for teammates and, as a whole, I thought his offensive zone passing was really good.

numbers via NaturalStatTrick.com

Recent Posts

New Jersey’s three stars of the month for January

The Devils are giving Joey Anderson another (deserved) look

Five New Jersey Devils questions for the stretch run

Devils Q&A: On Hughes, trade deadline, the GM search and more

The Devils should sell high on Sami Vatanen

My take on the firing of Ray Shero

Taking a closer look at the Hall trade

Report: Miles Wood is on the trade block
Join the Discussion: » 45 Comments » Post New Comment
More from Todd Cordell
» Thank you
» On the Chayka rumors and finalists for the Devils' GM job
» Notes on quotes from Lindy Ruff's appearance on 31 Thoughts
» The New Jersey Devils may not have hired the coach they wanted
» Notes on quotes from Ruff, Fitzgerald, and Devils ownership