N.J. Devils: Eddie Lack Short Circuits Tampa Bay Lightning

From the desk of:  THE BRICK CITY STYX

FINAL

Devils       4

Lightning  3

New Jersey Devils: Look what Newark did to the Tampa Bay Lightning ... again!

The Devils were cruising along with a 22-9-6 record at the time of their Dec. 29 victory over Buffalo.

On Dec. 30, general manager Ray Shero quietly acquired goalie Eddie Lack from the Calgary Flames in exchange for expendable blue-liner Dalton Prout.  At the time of the trade, starting goalie Cory Schneider nor back-up Keith Kincaid had yet experienced their respective groin injuries still to come.  Although Kincaid recovered and continues making starts, Schneider remains sidelined.  On Saturday against the Lightning at Tampa, Eddie Lack rewarded Shero with a very timely and rather heroic effort against one of the league's elite.

Playing in only his third game with the Devils, the opposing Eastern Conference leaders pelted Eddie Lack with 51 shots on goal.  New Jersey mistakes additionally afforded Tampa six power play opportunities.  But despite the Lightning converting twice on the man advantage, Eddie Lack otherwise short circuited the Bolts best efforts by making 48 saves against the league's top scoring team.

The Devils and Bolts traded goals in the first.  Ben Lovejoy opened the scoring just 2:49 into the game.  Despite a quick tying goal by Tampa, the Devils closed out the period with furious action in the Lightning zone.  New Jersey then fell behind only 2:47 into the second session, but Devils rookie Nico Hischier would answer back a mere 36-seconds later.  Pavel Zacha then put the Devils ahead again a little over three minutes later.

The early scoring trend continued in the third.  Newark's Miles Wood scored his 16th goal of the season just 1:24 into the session.  Within minutes, though, Steven Stamkos got the Lightning within one again with a power play goal at the 5:15 mark.  But Tampa would get no closer despite launching one last assault in the closing minutes.

What these young New Jersey Devils essentially did Saturday was prove their first meeting against Tampa, in which they outlasted the Bolts 5-4 in a shootout way back in October, was no fluke.

At 30-20-8 (66-points) the Devils wake up this morning tied with the Flyers for fifth in the Eastern Conference standings.

Twenty-four games remain in the regular season.  Today, they play the Carolina Hurricanes whom enter the game tied with Columbus, both one point behind the New York Islanders for the second Wild Card spot.

N.J. Devils: Look Who's Number One

From the desk of:  THE BRICK CITY STYX

Newark Youth Gone Wild

NEW JERSEY DEVILS: Naysayers Be Damned..!

If you didn't know, the rebuilding New Jersey Devils are off to their best start in franchise history.

With Wednesday evening's 2-0 whitewashing of the Canucks in Vancouver, the Devils remain unbeaten through five games on the road, and improved to 9-2-0 overall.

For the moment, they lead the Metropolitan Division by a point over the Pittsburgh Penguins, while their 18 points are second in the Eastern Conference behind the Tampa Bay Lightning.

This all somewhat unexpected, but not that far fetched.

The Devils went 28-40-14 last season, which earned them the number one overall pick in the 2017 entry draft.  The real question is how far away were they away from converting some of last year's 14 overtime losses, which ranked third most in the league?

Between Oct. 17 through the 27th, three of the Devils four games exceeded regulation time.  They emerged victorious in a shoot-out victory over Tampa Bay, then defeated Ottawa two nights later in overtime.  After falling 3-0 to the San Jose Sharks, the Devils took the rematch over the Senators, winning 5-4 in their second shoot-out of the season.

The Devils are presently fifth in the league in scoring.  Their +11 goal differential is likewise second only to Tampa in the conference, and fourth best in the league.

Perhaps, that's the part no one saw coming.

For the moment, all eyes are on 19-year old Jesper Bratt.  The 162nd overall selection in the 2016 draft, the Devils rookie winger has ten points (4 goals, 6 assists) in his first 11 games.

As the number one overall pick of the 2010 draft, Edmonton Oilers fans might have felt shortchanged by winger Taylor Hall, who perhaps did leave something to be desired.  Now in his second season with New Jersey, though, he presently leads the Devils with 15 points.

Circling back to New Jersey's number one overall pick ... centerman Nico Hischier has a pair of goals and five assists in 11 games.  Center Adam Henrique, meanwhile, could possibly be heading towards his first career 60 point season.  And, no, I have no explanation for Brian Gibbons' team leading five goals.

However, I do know defense is really leading the New Jersey Devils' way.  Their 31 goals against are presently second fewest in the conference.

Drafted by Ray Shero in the second round of the 2012 entry draft, and now entering his fourth season, 23-year old Damon Severson is listed at 6'2", 205 lbs.  Shero then selected Steven Santini in the second round of the 2013 draft.  He is 22-years old, similarly listed at 6"2", and 205lbs., and now working full-time after appearing in 38 games last season.

In June of this year, Shero traded the Devils second and fourth round picks to the San Jose Sharks in exchange for Mirco Mueller and a fifth round pick.  He is 22-years old, and listed at a somewhat larger 6'3", 210lbs.  In August, Shero then signed 22-year old Will Butcher to an entry level deal.  Somewhat smallish by comparison, he more closely resembles Andy Greene, listed at 5'10", and 199lbs.  Yet, he is second on the Devils with 11 assists so far this season, with seven coming on the power play.

Otherwise, Newark's blueliners come replete with stabilizing veterans.  Senior Devil Andy Greene is now in his 12th season with the club.  Signed as a free agent, the locally familiar John Moore was one of Ray Shero's first transactions after taking over for Lou Lamoriello as general manager.  Moore, listed at 6'3" 200lbs., posted a career high 10 goals, and 22 points last season.  Ben Lovejoy, now in year two of a three-year free agent deal, also brought size (6'1", 205lbs.) and Stanley Cup experience to the fold.

Surely, then, early season victories against Colorado, Toronto, the New York Rangers, Tampa Bay, Ottawa, and Vancouver, must count for something.

Have some courtesy ... give John Hynes and the Devils their due.