The New Jersey Devils Have Serious Problems on Defense
The defensive issues facing the New Jersey Devils are serious. Those issues existed long before Lindy Ruff joined the company.
Nevertheless, with young defensemen in the lineup this season, these defensive shortcomings are becoming apparent. The team has parted ways with veterans like Ryan Graves and Damon Severson. Since Dougie Hamilton and Jonas Siegenthaler were sidelined by injuries, Simon Nemec and Luke Hughes have been seeing more playing time.
The Devils defense was crumbling even with those players starting. Goalies also have to make saves, but it is difficult for them to do so when there are missed assignments and odd-man rushes during the game.
Consider a Saturday evening in Newark. Sergei Brylin was being honored by the Devils as he entered the Ring of Honor. On the other hand, the Devils were unable to generate results at the end of consecutive games. Something that the devils must correct. The Dallas Stars, on the other hand, entered Prudential Center and demonstrated what a playoff team should look like.
The Stars were the superior team from the beginning to the end. Although Scott Wedgewood, a former Devils goalie, was outstanding, the Stars’ strategy of exposing the New Jersey Devils’ lackluster play structure allowed them to win.
The game on Saturday night quickly got out of control. And when Roope Hintz scored the first of his two shorthanded goals to put the Stars ahead 2-0, it was over. You could see the Devils’ defensive pressure being applied from that point on.
Whatever your opinion of the rookie defensemen in the lineup—and we understand that they make mistakes—the veterans also play and make mistakes. The Devils need to play more methodically. The Stars gave up far too many simple goals on Saturday night.
It’s time to head back to Full Press Hockey’s video room.
Prior to talking about the Devils’ poor coverage of the Matt Duchene goal, we also need to talk about the shorthanded goal that Hintz scored. Simon Nemec needs to compete more effectively when he’s on the puck. a topic Nico Hischier discussed following Saturday’s game. The Devils’ captain is aware that his squad must compete on an equal footing with their rivals. It was absent from that objective.
Devils: Fewer Goalie Options for the New Jersey Devils
Matt Duchene’s Strike to Put It Up 3-0
It’s time to address the missed assignments on Matt Duchene’s goal by Colin Miller and Luke Hughes. Tyler Seguin is shown receiving the puck from Duchene in the video. Hughes heads to the puck carrier rather than hanging out with Duchene. Since Seguin is his man, Miller is already on this side of the ice. Luke Hughes is now to blame for this assignment. But Miller also needs to know that Hughes needs to go to Duchene if he’s going to Seguin. As neither player plays the back door pass, Stars win 3-0 with a simple tap-in.
Hintz’s Second Goal of the Match for Roope
Consider yourself without Roope Hintz on your side. screenshot.twitter.com/I98ojnpgtn
— January 21, 2024, Dallas Stars (@DallasStars)
The Dallas Stars made sure the Devils wouldn’t come back toward the end of the second period. Hintz scored the game’s second goal to make the score 4-0. It was one more assignment that was overlooked. The Stars prevail in a fight at their own line, as the video demonstrates. Hintz enters the Devils zone with the puck. He gives Wyatt Johnston the item. Hintz then makes his way around FOUR Devils players who are observing the puck carrier. Hintz is able to slyly navigate the layers. He was not picked up by John Marino or Michael McLeod.
Luke Hughes is greeted by Wyatt Johnston as a new member of the National Hockey League later in the game.
Play of the Year: Wyatt Johnston! pic.twitter.com/TSTS4RIShw
— January 21, 2024, Dallas Stars (@DallasStars)
Hughes and Dawson Mercer’s attempt to prevent Johnston from scoring is subpar as Johnston passes them. To be honest, it is awful. On Saturday night, the Devils sent it in. Their defense is currently hurting this team.
Well, there are young defensemen on the ice and in the room, but eventually things have to be made simpler. As Yogi Berra once said, “it is getting late, early for the Devils.” The team should let the game come to them rather than trying to chase it.
However, head coach Lindy Ruff criticized his team’s defensive play early in the season, saying, “We made an unbelievable effort to play good defensive hockey last year if we’re going to play like this.” Ruff had previously called his team soft following a loss to Washington. We’re going to be very harsh with ourselves.
And as the season draws to a close, the New Jersey Devils keep making things difficult for themselves on defense.
