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Devils Scoring Woes Didn’t Start With Jack Hughes’ Injury, Now It’s Worse
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- Devils Scoring Woes Didn’t Start With Jack Hughes’ Injury, Now It’s Worse
Ed Mulholland-Imagn Images
Houston, we have a problem.
The New Jersey Devils , with or without Jack Hughes , are struggling to find the back of the net.
On Thursday, they were blanked by the Florida Panthers en route to Sergei Bobrovsky 's second shutout of the season. It was a low-scoring affair, in which they lost 1-0 in regulation. However, the difference in chances was stark, as the Panthers held a 21-13 advantage in scoring chances per Natural Stat Trick .
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In fact, in their last three games, the Devils have only been able to find the back of the net three times. Two of those goals were against the Washington Capitals , one via the shootout, which doesn't really even count on the scoresheet.
At first glance, it seems evident that without Hughes, the Devils are struggling to find the back of the net. Certainly, that's an issue. New Jersey cannot sink or swim by the fate of one player. That's not what guys like Jesper Bratt (one goal in his last 13 games), Timo Meier , & Nico Hischier (two goals in their last 16 games each), are being paid for.
Fortunately, there's an encouraging timeline for Hughes' recovery, which just might place him back in the lineup sooner than anticipated.
We'll see.
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However, a closer look at the numbers proves that the Devils, at even strength, have a scoring issue, and they have all along.
Through 20 games, the Devils are averaging 22.6 scoring chances for versus 24.25 scoring chances against at even strength. Through 17 games with Hughes, the average is 19.4 scoring chances, whereas without in the last three it drops to 18, again, all at even strength.
They simply needed to be better at creating opportunities before Hughes became injured. Now, it's even more pressing.
Dawson Mercer at the center position just isn't working. It's not his fault, as both he and Sheldon Keefe have expressed a desire to keep Mercer on the wing. The belief is that's his prime position.
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However, out of an abundance of need due to injuries, the Devils have no choice but to skate him there.
In the last three games against the Washington Capitals, Tampa Bay Lightning , and Florida Panthers, any combination of skaters Mercer has played with has struggled to create offense. Mercer-led trios at even strength have accrued just three scoring chances, whereas they've been caved in for 20 scoring chances against.
The Mercer-led line with Meier and Connor Brown in particular has not worked well, with an egregious 2-15 scoring chance differential in three games, and accounting for just one high-danger chance as opposed to allowing 14.
In fact, only Hischier-led units in the top-six have accounted for any positive scoring chance differentials in the last three games.
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Whether it be Keefe shaking things up and moving Meier or Arseny Gritsyuk back to Hischier's wing, flanked Bratt, the captain's line has generated 30 scoring chances, as opposed to allowing 11.
In terms of top-six, every other line combination has been in the negatives.
Therefore, without Hischier or Hughes on the ice, the Devils are being outclassed by the opposition in the offensive zone.
The power play isn't helping much either. With Hughes, they were scoring .6 power play goals per game. Without, they've halved that total with .3 PPGs per game.
Overall, the Devils were averaging 3.4 goals per game through 17 games. Yet, in their last three they're averaging 1.5 goals per game, not accounting for the fabricated shootout goal vs. Washington.
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It's a shocking development given their strong start and 13-6-1 record, and could pose as an even bigger issue moving forward, with fellow teams in the Metropolitan Division finding the back of the net more often, as the Devils rank fifth-best in goals per-game in the Metro.
The Devils went out and acquired depth this summer, and are certainly depleted by injuries for the majority of the season. They're buoyed by their strong start, but are looking flat as of late. The lack of goals is an issue with so much talent still on the roster despite Hughes' absence.
The Devils need to start scoring, namely at even strength, before it's too late.
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