Despite losing yesterday against the Carolina Hurricanes, New Jersey Devils played well enough to get the point. Jesper Bratt had two goals, while Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier each had a goal in the loss. Mackenzie Blackwood made 43 saves but fell short in the shootout. The Metropolitan Division leading Hurricanes are now on an eleven game winning streak.
Thoughts and Musings
1. Despite the one miscue which led to a Sebastian Aho shorthanded goal, Blackwood played well and was able to remain focused for the rest of the game. And Devils head coach Lindy Ruff came to his net minder’s defense by saying, “I give him a lot of credit for keeping his composure and playing and making some big freakin saves."
2. Despite giving up one Hurricanes power play goal, the Devils penalty kill has been awesome as of late. While many do not agree with some of the penalties that were called, New Jersey was able to withstand the Hurricanes pressure.
3. Hurricanes goaltender Antti Raanta had his scoreless streak, which spanned over two games, snapped by Jack Hughes in the second period. The Devils wound up putting four past Raanta and kept the pressure all night.
4. Referee Justin Kea made the call on Devils defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler for embellishment in the third period after being tripped up by Hurricanes’ Teuvo Teravainen. After looking at the replay several times, Siegenthaler just tripped after the penalty was committed and made no attempt to “oversell” it to the referees on the ice. Kea was also the referee that made a botched call on Nathan Bastian interfering with Leafs goaltender Matt Murray during that infamous game when the 13 game winning streak was halted by three goals called back by inconsistent officiating.
5. After radio silence from the New Jersey Devils in the past two weeks, it was announced before the game yesterday that defenseman Ryan Graves would be back into the lineup. Graves, who is in a contract year, had been out with a lower body injury after hitting the board against Florida on December 21st.
6. Defenseman Tyler Wotherspoon has been assigned to Utica.
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Sam Woo is co-host and executive producer of the Let's Go Devils Podcast which can be heard live every Sunday at 9pm ET and Wednesday at 8:30pm ET.
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