What the Hell is right!
It has been a theme... the Devils first periods suck! Coach Ruff is vocal about it.
All too often the Devils put themselves behind the eight ball in the first twenty minutes and play catchup the rest of the game. And its a lot of things: back checking, turn overs, its abandoning the plan that made them successful at the start of the season. Perhaps an overachieving team.
Blackwood cannot be at fault here being bombarded and down 3 goals at the end of the first period yesterday against a powerful Caps team. I was surprised Coach Ruff kept him in but after thinking a bit it was a good game for his character to be able to battle through and, at one point, a one goal game.
Now that the Devils are fully healthy, they are playing worse. Were the Tennysons and Wedgewoods working harder? Were they following the plan?
I think this has also caused a domino effect as the line shuffling has also affected other players.
The Devils have done a good job this season bouncing back from a loss. Let's see what team and what first period we see today at 3pm today.
How about Pavel Zacha?
Not too long ago he was considered a "has been" and on the brink of wearing another jersey in the recent past. Yes the 6 year veteran is only 23!
A nine game point streak, racking up 4g and 7a for 11 points, has catapulted him to the team lead in scoring. One point ahead of Jack Hughes.
Where did that come from? Maybe it didn't, it has always been there and the current situation has paid dividends.
NHL Stats highlighted that Zacha had a career-high 29 shifts.
Hischier and Blackwood will not be in the lineup today.
Nico was shaken up when hit in the head by Subban's deflected shot and looks to be day to day. Let's hope its nothing more than a shakeup as it is believed the impact of the puck hitting the helmet pushed his visor to make contact and cut him in the face.
Projected Lineups for today:
Johnsson-Hughes-Palmieri
Zacha-Sharangovich-Bratt (want to see Sharangovich today moving up with new wingers)
Kuokkanen-Zajac-Gusev (will the Goose score a meaningful goal? He needs a bounce)
Wood-McLeod-Bastian (I really love this 4th line, they can do it all. But is Wood wasted on the 4th line? Should he swap spots with Kuokkanen?)
Smith-Seversen
Kulikov-Subban
Butcher-Vatanen (I really like what Kulikov and Vatanen has brought to the team. Being one year deals that may not finish with the team)
Dell-Wedgewood (no announcement as of yet who will start, my inclination would be Dell)
At some point the Devils will need to decide of they will be buyers or sellers. The next few games may just give us that answer.
Let's hope for an early jump to the period and get to Samsonov.
Let's go Devils!
Truly yours,
The Devils Advocate
New Jersey Devils Blogger • 
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