Devils Sunday Brunch - 10 Thoughts on the Second Half
What to look for moving forward as the Devils try to make the postseason
With the team having a full week off while the league celebrated its All-Stars, this week’s Sunday Brunch looks different. We will go through 10 thoughts on the second half of the season. Regular Sunday Brunch will return next week.
1. Fast Start Needed
The Devils begin the second half five points out of a playoff spot. The need to start the second half quickly cannot be overstated. The team must demonstrate a sense of urgency that has been lacking for much of the season. The first week, though, will not be easy with games against Colorado and Calgary at The Rock, where they have struggled all season, followed by a trip to play Carolina in Raleigh. The Devils struggled in the first half to find ways to get points out of games where they weren’t playing at their best. Getting the “loser point” for sending a game to overtime is why the Islanders, who have four fewer wins in more games, are still ahead of New Jersey.
2. Establish a Home-Ice Advantage
This wasn’t The Rock in 2019 when the team struggled to draw 12000 fans; the building is sold out or close to capacity most nights as the team is averaging 16402 in attendance per game. The crowd has also brought the energy, both positive and negative, sometimes in the same game. After being booed off the ice, the team rallied for a furious comeback win over Vegas in their final home game of the first half, buoyed by a raucous crowd. The Devils have to hope to build off that game and correct the trend of playing better on the road. For the season, they are -11 in goal differential at home while being +5 on the road. They have given up nine more goals at home in one less game. Winning home games has to be the primary focus moving forward.
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