This game was a real litmus test for the current streaking Devils, and the dumb part of me still wondered “what if.” Welp, that dumb part of me got put away in the middle of the second. As the game wore on, the Canes did what they do – stayed patient, forced mistakes and capitalized. We just have no solution for this team.
1st Period
The game started choppy with both teams having difficulty finding any rhythm, but the Canes controlled most of the zone time – if you could call it control – until the Devils went
on the Power Play at 9:50. Their struggles continued against the Canes as they generated no shots and no real zone time (for either unit) and the Canes were able to kill it. 20 seconds after the first PP, they would draw another penalty as Tripped Tsyplakov just outside the offensive zone. Similar to the first go-round, they couldn’t generate anything. That makes them 1 for their last 30 PPs against Carolina after today.
With 3 minutes left the Devils caught a break, as Nico flung a backhanded stretch pass up to Mercer who was streaking into the zone on the right wing boards. Realizing he didn’t have a clean breakaway and the back/side pressure, he smartly held up, delayed, and slid a pass to Meier who made no mistake about burying it.
That’s how they would go to the room, up 1-0. The Devils were slightly outplayed, shot metrics were around 60/40, but they did get better quality finishing almost 50/50 on xGF%. Markstrom made 2 great stops, one early on Stankoven in the low slot, and one on a Seth Jarvis cross-slot one-timer.
2nd Period
Things were generally fine until the second half of the 2nd, and the wheels just fell off, starting with a bad penalty on Lenni. The Canes would get their first, on a nasty snipe by Ehlers. Wouldn’t have minded seeing Kovacevic come out a little harder and get in the lane, but generally just a great shot by a great player. 1-1 at 10:10.
2 1/2 minutes later, the Canes took advantage of a weak clear attempt, and Jackson Blake found himself on a low 2 on 1, with only Siegs back. He showed good patience, pulled it back and waited Marky out before sliding it under him. 2-1 at 13:48.
1 1/2 minutes after Blake’s goal, the Devils failed to clear again, and a collective disaster class led to a Staal tip play in front, and it’s 3-1 at 15:13.
This period was just an absolute beat down as the Canes led shot attempts 28-13 at 5v5, HDCF 7-1 at 5v5 and xG 70/30. Woof.
3rd Period
The 3rd was similar to the the 2nd, the Devils just couldn’t get anything through the Canes who were disciplined, and won almost every 50/50 puck. They added to their lead, burying the Dagger at 15:25, on a brutal pass up the gut by Nemec, which was intercepted by Gostisbehere, who had all day to stroll in and beat Marky high glove. 4-1.
The Devils picked up a PP on a charge by Gostisbehere on Dadanov, but as seems to be the case we couldn’t generate anything. Keefe pulled Marky out of desperation, and since the could Ice the puck with impunity, Walker took a shot at it and missed, but Jarvis outhustled the PP unit to tap in the empty netter. 5-1 at 17:40.
Dadanov finally put up his first point of the season, scoring on a 2-on-1. Obviously it didn’t matter, but man what a frustrating season it has been for him.
And that’s the final. 5-2. OWNED.
Some Scattered Thoughts
Not a single stand out player on our end, and some day they need to figure out how to get through Carolina.
I’ve been tough on Marky all season, all of us have for the most part, but I thought he was pretty good until the team fell apart in front of him.
Brutal game for Nemec, multiple bad turnovers, failed clear on the 3rd goal and bad pass on the 4th. Really curious what happens with him this summer, there have been conflicting reports about what he is looking for, but it is insane to think he should be getting what Luke is. In my opinion, I only move him in a package for a scoring wing, but he should really get a bridge deal.
Jack had a tough time with the puck tonight, a few fumbles – I think he was trying to do too much.
Fun fact, we’ve been outscored 2-1 on those 30 power plays I referenced above.
Congrats to Mercer on his 400th consecutive game, very impressive. That is the sound of all my joints snap crackle popping.
Just riding out the string here at this point, very little chance they get in with 96 points which is the max they can get now by winning out.
LGD Always
