Devils Postgame
Devils Play Low Event Hockey, Lack Finish, Drop Third Straight Loss to Jets
Despite the New Jersey Devils out-chancing the Winnipeg Jets, however, lacked finishing ability in their third straight loss.
NEWARK—Not only did the New Jersey Devils fall below the passing mark at the NHL Trade Deadline, they failed their assignment on Friday night, against the Winnipeg Jets.
The Devils fell victim to another slow start, forking over an early lead, and lack of finishing ability.
READ MORE: Devils Fail at NHL Trade Deadline, ‘We Came in Second’
The Devils and Jets got off to an equal start, trading chances at even strength through 10 minutes of the first period. Adam Lowry took a cross-checking penalty, two-handing Stefan Noesen giving the Devils an early power play opportunity.
New Jersey couldn’t generate any shots on the man advantage, however. After Winnipeg returned to even strength, they began to tilt the ice their way. Sure enough, the Jets opened the scoring, a goal by Alex Iafallo to give Winnipeg a 1-0 lead.
The Devils’ second period started just as poorly as their first period ended. In the Devils’ end, Jacob Markstrom left his crease to play the puck. However, he put himself in a vulnerable position, leaving the net open and nearly allowing Gabriel Vilardi to score. However, newly extended Johnathan Kovacevic negated the chance by taking a holding penalty, sending Winnipeg to the power play.
The Devils nearly killed the infraction, however, Josh Morrissey extended the Jets’ lead to 2-0 before the penalty expired.
Before the second period could come to a close, Nikolaj Ehlers tripled the Jets’ lead, making it a 3-0 game going into the second intermission.
Head coach Sheldon Keefe must have given the Devils a rally speech between periods, because New Jersey came out in the third, shot out of a cannon.
In fact, Dawson Mercer finally got the Devils on the board just 30 seconds into the final frame, a one-time shot that finished off a pretty passing play by Kovacevic.
New Jersey then sustained offensive zone pressure, forcing Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck to make several strong saves. That was until the midway point of the final frame, when the Jets began to take the ice back.
In the Devils’ zone, Simon Nemec handled the puck and attempted to start a breakout. However, Adam Lowry stripped Nemec of the puck, and scored on Markstrom below the dots all alone.
Kyle Connor and Cole Perfetti extended the Jets lead to 6-1 soon after, scoring respective goals within the final five minutes, sealing New Jersey’s third loss in a row.
Markstrom made 29 saves on 35 shots. Hellebuyck stopped 22/23 pucks faced.
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