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Five observations from New Jersey vs Arizona:
1. Hockey was fun again
To be blunt, watching the Devils has been horrible over the last few months. Injuries have played a big part of that. Not so subtle tanking, which is the right move long-term, hasn't helped the cause either.
Still, it was a pleasant surprise – at least in terms of entertainment value – to see Nico Hischier, Kyle Palmieri, Miles Wood, Sami Vatanen, and Mirco Mueller play on Saturday. The Devils actually iced something closely resembling an NHL lineup and, for the first time in a long time, they looked the part of an NHL team. They were fast. The passing was crisp. They generated plenty of chances, too, and it was so refreshing to see.
Winning that game could very well hurt the Devils at the draft lottery in a couple of weeks. And it'll really, really, suck if that's the case. But it was nice to tune into a Devils game and actually enjoy myself for a few hours. I missed that feeling.
2. The offense looked potent
I thought the Devils looked very dangerous offensively, particularly on the power play. They were whipping the puck around like nothing and generating tons of quality shots. It felt like they were always a legitimate threat to score and the numbers back that up. They managed 18 high-danger chances, which was their 2nd highest output since December 1st (their best showing came in February against Chicago). Darcy Kuemper deserves a ton of credit for getting the Coyotes a point. That brings me to my next note...
3. Goaltending was exceptional
Kuemper has been one of the league's best stories this season and it continued Saturday. The Devils tested him early and often and he came up with big save after big save. When the Coyotes paraded to the box in the 2nd period, the Devils had a real opportunity to blow the game wide open and yet they weren't even able to take a lead. Kuemper was locked in.
Mackenzie Blackwood wasn't called upon as frequently as Kuemper but the Coyotes, who are fighting for their playoff lives, certainly tested him. He made some impressive post-to-post saves and kept the puck out on a couple of different crease-scrambles when he had no business doing so.
Between the two of them, they conceded just twice on 56 shots and 29 high-danger chances. They were both great and it was a treat to watch them duke it out.
4. The chances are there for Mikey McLeod
He generated a shot and/or chance every other game over the first eight of his NHL career and looked very harmless in the process. While the results aren't there yet, the latter is no longer the case. The Devils were solid offensively and McLeod was one of the guys at the forefront, recording four attempts (three on goal) and three chances – including one at the doorstep with a yawning cage. McLeod is not exactly a natural finisher, so I doubt he'll ever score a ton even if the chances are there, but one has to believe he'll get rewarded sooner than later. He is generating too many chances not to, having recorded at least a pair in five of his last six.
5. Miles Wood looked good
He didn't miss a beat in his return to the lineup. His speed and energy was a factor, he crashed the net a few times, he was one of the few Devils to finish above 50% in possession, he assisted on the team's lone goal, and only Nico Hischier recorded more chances. I thought he was playing some of his best hockey prior to the injury. It looks like he picked up where he left off.
Numbers via NaturalStatTrick.com
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