The New Jersey Devils will look to continue the momentum they built leading up to the NHL’s holiday break after the three-day break, as the Metropolitan Division leaders begin a two-day home-and-home series against the No. 3 Carolina Hurricanes. I want it. Friday in Newark, New Jersey
Coach Sheldon Keefe’s team has won five of its past six games, including a shutout victory. Jacob Markstrom stopped 12 shots in the Devils’ 5-0 win over the visiting New York Rangers on Monday. That came just two days after he made 12 saves at home against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
According to the league record book, the Devils have recorded three consecutive shutouts only once, from April 1 to April 6, 1997.
Jack Hughes added two goals and an assist in Monday’s win. Timo Meier and Dawson Mercer each had one goal and one assist, and Jesper Bratt and Luke Hughes had two assists.
The Devils’ offense has been on display in their last six games, with the team scoring 19 points in five wins. However, the team’s defense continues to play strong as well. New Jersey hasn’t allowed an opponent more than 20 shots on goal in seven games. This is the longest such streak since the NHL began tracking the statistic in the 1955-56 season.
When Keefe spoke to reporters after the win over the Rangers, he said he didn’t even know the league had recorded this, but that it was a result of the team’s willingness to protect the center of the rink and prevent opponents from scoring. Ta. Attempt multiple scoring chances.
“Whether it’s having the puck and managing it well or filling in space when you don’t have the puck, it’s just a really tremendous buy-in and dedication from our players,” Keefe said. “You can’t ask for more in that regard.”
That streak could be in jeopardy Friday as the Devils face the Hurricanes, who average 31.6 shots per game.
Carolina concludes its four-game road trip Friday. On Monday, they lost 5-2 to the Nashville Predators, their second loss in three tournaments. The Hurricanes trailed 4-0 less than three minutes into the third period before Jordan Staal and Sebastian Aho scored 40 seconds apart, which was as close as the team could get.
Manager Rod Brind’Amour later told reporters that the Hurricanes’ recent struggles were not due to a lack of effort.
“We had to keep working, trying to find the right combination to spice things up,” he said. “There are some things we know that work, we just have to figure out the rest. But (Monday) we as a group weren’t good enough to compete for the majority of the game. It wasn’t, but we got what we deserved.” ”
The holidays may have come at the perfect time for Martin Necas. The center remains Carolina’s leading scorer with 44 points (14 goals, 30 assists) in 34 games. However, the 25-year-old Czech has gone goalless in eight games all season. He has no assists in his last four games, which is also a season-long streak, and he has recorded just one assist in his last six games.
–Field level media
