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It was yet another subpar month for the New Jersey Devils.
Just four teams won fewer games and the historically bad Detroit Red Wings were the only side to allow more goals against. It was bad.
That being said, there were still some bright spots in the pool of darkness. We’ll take a closer look in January’s edition of 3 Stars of the Month.
3rd star - Nikita Gusev
Gusev continues to establish himself as an upper-echelon offensive player.
He tied Nico Hischier for the team lead in scoring (8) while piling up more primary assists (5) than anybody on the roster. He also drew five minor penalties, good for 1st on the Devils, while taking zero of his own.
As a nice little bonus he scored two shootout goals on two tries, with his marker against Ottawa serving as the eventual winner.
2nd star - Blake Coleman
January was a very strange month for Coleman. The Devils out-attempted opponents 195-164 with him on the ice at 5v5, good for a 54.32 Corsi For%. His chance numbers were less flattering, though, which helps start to explain how he ended up with a minus-9 goal differential in that game state.
If the Devils were crushed on the scoreboard with Coleman out there, why is he the 2nd star? Great question, allow me to explain.
Coleman led the team in goals (7), Grade A chances (25), total scoring chances (41), and shots on goal (49). Nobody really touched him in *any* of those categories. He was indisputably the team’s best individual scoring threat. That matters.
Though some of his 5v5 on-ice numbers were wonky, he remained lethal on the penalty kill. The Devils gave up just two power play goals in 29 minutes with Coleman out there. Put another way, teams went ~2/15 against him. You happily take that, especially when considering the Devils scored three shorties with Coleman on the ice.
Yes, you read that correctly. Coleman played 29 minutes shorthanded and helped the Devils out-score their opponents in that time.
He clearly did a lot of good. While there was also some bad (negative chance and goal differentials), I’m not sure Coleman is to blame for his goaltenders stopping *checks notes* 82% of the shots with him out there over the course of a month.
1st star - Nico Hischier
This will be no surprise to anybody still regularly watching this Devils team. Hischier was an absolute boss last month.
He led the team in points (8) and was one of the few players without a negative 5v5 goal differential.
And it’s not just that the results were good; it’s how Hischier looked while getting them.
I think he is reaching new levels, both in terms of the skill plays he’s making and the confidence he is displaying on a nightly basis.
Hischier is doing whatever he wants at times. He’s zipping pucks through tight windows, leading teammates into open space, fighting through contact and maintaining possession. He’s just making things happen.
Again, nobody on the roster out-scored him in January and there were countless chances he set up that didn’t result in goals. With a little more luck, he’d easily have been in the double digits.
Updated standings
Points (appearances)
3 for 1st, 2 for 2nd, 1 for 3rd
Blake Coleman -- 5 (2)
Nico Hischier -- 3 (1)
Nikita Gusev -- 3 (3)
Mackenzie Blackwood -- 3 (1)
Taylor Hall -- 2 (1)
Damon Severson -- 2 (1)
numbers via NaturalStatTrick.com
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