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

Defense great, goaltending not as Devils fall to Ducks

January 20, 2019, 11:28 AM ET [17 Comments]
Todd Cordell
New Jersey Devils Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
Follow me on Twitter @ToddCordell

Five observations from New Jersey vs Anaheim:

1. The Devils gave up nothing

New Jersey's team defense – especially around the net – has often been a problem. That was far from the case vs the Ducks. It might have been the Devils' cleanest defensive game of the season. Check that, it was. They allowed just 14(!) shots on goal and 10 'Grade B' scoring chances. For perspective of how impressive that is, the previous low of a Devils opponent was 16 and only four times have they given up fewer than 20 chances. They really shut down Anaheim's offense. Unfortunately, seemingly every time the Ducks did threaten it ended up in the back of the net. It's not that the goals were bad. It's just extremely difficult to win when you get a .786 save percentage from your starting goaltender.

2. Jesper Bratt was fantastic

I thought he was one of the best players on the ice from start to finish. Somehow he only ended up playing 13:43 in a game the Devils were trailing for 50 minutes. Nevertheless, he certainly made the most of the time he did get. He showed great patience waiting for Marcus Johansson to get behind the defender before slipping the puck to him in tight on the team's opening goal. He slowed up on the wing on a couple occasions and waited for pinching defenders to catch up before hitting them with passes to create chances. Bratt also generated a couple of his own, one of which beat John Gibson to give the Devils a glimmer of hope late. When all was said and done, Bratt finished with a 70.59 Corsi For% and picked up primary points on both goals. He was great.

3. Blake Coleman continues to impress

Though he didn't find the scoresheet, Coleman was once again one of the team's best players. He led the way in shot attempts (8), chances (4), was relentless on the forecheck (as always), and put together some really impressive shifts on the penalty kill. So much so the Devils managed to outshoot the Ducks 3-0 while down a man with Coleman on the ice. With every game that passes, Coleman's contract looks like a bigger bargain. He still has two years left at $1.8 million.

4. The power play is bad

Taylor Hall normally runs the operation. Obviously, things aren't going to run overly smooth without him. But, man, the power play is ugly. Pavel Zacha continues to get consistent ice on PP1 and he doesn't do much beyond forcing passes to Kyle Palmieri. Travis Zajac and Brian Boyle aren't really scoring threats, either, and the ice is always there for them. Heck, even Nathan Bastian got some run on the PP to reward him for his 15.38 CF%. You know who didn't? Blake Coleman, who continues to be at or near the top of the Devils in shots and chances every single night. I could understand if the PP was working and you don't want to risk change. But that's not the case – the Devils have not scored a PPG in eight of nine games now.

5. Nathan Bastian didn't play well

He garnered a lot of attention because of his fight with Josh Manson. I get it. Manson is a very tough guy, a lot of people consider the Devils soft, and Bastian more than held his own. Good, great, wonderful. His on-ice impact still left a lot to be desired. He finished with the worst Corsi For% out of anyone on either side, the Devils gave up a goal with him on the ice, and he didn't generate a single shot attempt, let alone a chance. The guy has 33 points in 111 AHL games. I'd be careful with the hype train.

Recent Posts

On Zacha's streakiness, Coleman's strong play, and Hischier without Hall

The Devils should trade Kinkaid prior to the deadline

On Hynes being extended by the Devils

Zacha's offensive play leaves little room for optimism

Predicting the Metro Division standings in 2018-19
Join the Discussion: » 17 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