Devils Sunday Brunch - New Year's Eve 2023 Edition
A look back at the Devils week that was for premium subscribers
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It has been an up-and-down week for New Jersey. Stretching back eight days to the game against the Detroit Red Wings, the team went 3-1, ending the week on a sour note in Boston. Now, the team will take two days off before practicing, then head to Washington for a crucial road matchup against the Capitals.
The most pressing issue facing the team is goaltending. The original tandem of Vitek Vanecek and Akira Schmid has been broken up, with Schmid switching places with Nico Daws, who recently returned from hip resurfacing surgery. Daws shined in his debut, making essential saves and backstopping a Devils win over Ottawa on Friday. Vanecek has struggled, most recently surrendering five straight goals to Boston after being spotted a 2-0 lead.
The Devils hoped that Schmid would get regular reps in Utica while Daws got to face NHL-caliber players daily and that Vanecek would continue his recent improvement. Unfortunately for New Jersey, only two of the three came to fruition as Vanecek imploded. Currently, general manager Tom Fitzgerald faces a crucial decision: how can he improve the goaltending without disturbing his young core. Fortunately, Fitzgerald will soon benefit from almost nine million LTIR dollars.
Earlier this week, we took a look at what Fitzgerald should do with his extra cash: How the Devils Can & Should Use Their Newfound LTIR
Earlier today, the Maple Leafs and Sabres cut bait on two NHL goalies by placing Ilya Samsonov and Eric Comrie on waivers with the plan to send them to the AHL. The Devils will not need a second goaltender until next weekend. In that time, Fitzgerald has to do something with Vanecek; if they think he is fixable, then an AHL stint is wise; if not, it is time to pay whatever the cost to acquire a better goaltender and move Vanecek.
The team's other significant issue is figuring out how to improve in the second half of back-to-back games. The NHL did them no favors by scheduling them to play 16 back-to-back games, the most in the league. Even more unfair is that most of them consist of road games like the trip this past weekend. Next weekend, with Chicago and Vancouver coming in, the Devils will again have a chance to remedy the situation.
The team has done much better with coming out strong at the beginning of the second game but has failed to get winning goaltending to help a tired team. Last night against Boston was a prime chance for Vanecek to pick up his teammates, but he could not.
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Cup of Coffee
News and Notes from the Week
The Devils’ inability to get “loser points” has been holding them back, as they have as many or more regulation wins as four teams ahead of them in the standings.
Timo Meier played in his 500th career game this week. The Swiss forward also had a four-game point streak.
The Devils continue to struggle with scoring first; their goal against Boston marked only the tenth time this season that they have scored first. They are 7-2-1 in those games.
Jack Hughes accumulated 113 points in 2023, tying him with Patrik Elias for the most points in Devils history in a calendar year.
Luke Hughes has an active three-game goal-scoring streak, the longest in Devils history for a rookie defenseman.
Omelette Station
A mix of the best stats and trends from the week:
Michael McLeod broke his record for most faceoff wins in a game with 17 on Saturday night. The previous record of 16 was also held by McLeod, who did that twice.
McLeod continues to lead the NHL in faceoff win percentage with an absurd 66.2%
Brendan Smith scored his first goal in a Devils uniform Friday night against Ottawa. Chris Tierney notched his first point as a Devil in the same game.
Jesper Bratt (43) and Jack Hughes (44) remain on pace to become the Devils’ first 100-point scorers.
The Devils have dropped to seventh in the NHL in goals per game with 3.49
The power play success in Ottawa and Boston has returned the team to second in the NHL, just .6 behind the leader.
The Devils are sixth in the league with 19 combined regulation and overtime wins but are 16th in points percentage.
Saturday’s game vs. Ottawa was the sixth time Bratt had three or more points this season. That is already the most in a season for the Swede.
McLeod, Tierney, and Haula were all over 63% in faceoff win percentage for the week.
Brendan Smith led the team in blocked shots this week with 11, while Kevin Bahl led in hits with 14, followed by McLeod with 9.
In 73 minutes of penalty kill time with Brendan Smith on the ice, the Devils have only surrendered three goals while scoring two. He has helped the goalies to a 93.4 SV% with him on the PK.
Mimosas
Weekly Awards
Player of the Week
Any time you win three of four, there are bound to be several candidates for player of the week. This week, it has to go to Luke Hughes. The rookie is on a three-game goal-scoring streak and scored one of the most beautiful goals you will ever see. Niedermayer 2.0? Hughes had 5 points on the week; with Luke on ice, they played to a 69 xGF%, outscored opponents 9 to 5, and out-chanced opponents 52 to 19.
Stat of the Week
The Devils are fourth in the NHL in xGF% at 5v5. The team is not playing up to that number, scoring only 45% of the goals at 5v5. They have scored eight less than expected while giving up 14 more than expected; that -22 differential is 31st in the NHL.
Quote of the Week
“He’s got that shot, that he can put it right through the goalie, and we look to capitalize on that.”
Dawson Mercer on Timo Meier
Devils Article of the Week
Devils’ Confidence in Rookies, Nemec, and Hughes Paying Off
Devils Goal of the Week
There were a few to choose from: Luke Hughes’ 200-foot beauty, the Nico HIschier tic tac toe power play goal, or the Timo Meier overtime breakaway winner, but this week, it goes to Brendan Smith and his first goal as a Devil.
Almond Croissant
A little sweet before you leave the table.
The Devils have a three-game week coming up. The week begins in Washington against the Capitals, the worst matchup of the season for the Devils. Then, a fun weekend, with a Friday night matchup against Connor Bedard and the Blackhawks, a chance to see Luke Hughes’ main competition for the Calder Trophy, followed by the first-ever home game featuring all three Hughes brothers. If the game in Vancouver was any guide, this one should be special.
More stuff from our writers on the New Jersey Devils
NJD vs OTT: 3 Takeaways From Devils’ Dominant 6-2 Win Over Senators
Fixing the Back to Backs: Devils’ Back-to-Back Results Are Due for an Improvement
Will 3M Stick? : McLeod, Meier, & Mercer Driving Devils to Success
Rookie DMen Paying Dividends: Devils’ Confidence in Rookies, Nemec, and Hughes Paying Off