Down 3-1, on the brink of heading out on a two-week, five-game road trip on the heels of a nine-game home winless streak, the Devils unleashed a third period and overtime to remember. Many will consider this proof that the early season 13-game winning streak was no fluke. The Devils dispatched Division rival New York Rangers at 2:44 of overtime when veteran defenseman Damon Severson cleanly beat reigning Vezina Trophy winner, Igor Shesterkin low to the stick side.
The goal, Severson's first since October, came on the heels of a stellar defensive effort by him who then led a 2-on-1 rush with Nico Hischier providing the decoy necessary to hold Shesterkin long enough for Severson to hit his mark. The win propelled the Devils within three points of division leader Carolina Hurricanes and put two points clear of the surging Rangers, with a game in hand.
The goal was vindication for Severson, the longest-tenured Devil, who in mid-December was a healthy scratch from a game. While not having the same impact offensively, Severson is having one of his best seasons analytically and has been a stalwart for the team amongst the rash of injuries and inconsistency on the back line.
OMG SEVERSON OMG!! DEVILS WIN IT IN OT!!!! pic.twitter.com/bmqpb7ZyTr
— Devils on MSG (@DevilsMSGN) January 7, 2023
INJURY UPDATES
At practice, the Devils were buoyed by the quicker than expected return of forward Nathan Bastian. Bastian was a limited participant in practice as he was held out of some of the drills and spent others as a defense partner to Kevin Bahl much in the way Ondrej Palat did as he began his return from injury. Bastian appeared to be in good spirts and was skating well.
The Devils have not had Bastian since he left the ice with an upper-body injury, playing less than 90 seconds in a 5-1 win over the Washington Capitals. Bastian has thus far missed 17 games and the Devils have certainly missed his physicality and energy. They have struggled in reworking their lines to fill the hole in the lineup. It did not appear that he is ready to play vs. Carolina but it wouldn't be a surprise for him to slot in at some point on the road trip.
Unfortunately for the Devils, not all of the news out of practice was good as veteran winger Miles Wood crumbled to the ice during a 2-v-2 drill. Wood grabbed at his right skate and writhed in pain pounding his glove into the ice. He was later helped off the ice by teammates Tomas Tatar and Michael McLeod who towed Wood to the bench area with his right foot remaining off the ice.
Tatar and McLeod bringing Wood off the ice. pic.twitter.com/PLm4OmcJTt
— Ryan Novozinsky (@ryannovo62) January 9, 2023
Wood, however, reportedly participated in this morning's team skate and declared himself ready to play against Carolina. Lindy Ruff later affirmed this in his media availability.
Wood on tonight: “I should be good to go.”
HC Ruff affirms: “Looks likes Miles should play tonight.” #NJDevils
— Sam Kasan (@samikasan) January 10, 2023
Devils defenseman John Marino also joined the team for its morning skate today in a non-contact capacity. Ruff said it is, "the first step in getting back into the lineup." It is not inconceivable that the Devils could have a full slate of healthy players by the end of January for the first time since the first week of the season. Getting everyone back will allow GM Tom Fitzgerald, along with Ruff to better evaluate where the team is and how to improve at the trade deadline.
Road Warriors
Despite their December troubles, the Devils still lead the NHL in points percentage on the road and are second in the league in road wins (14). (Per @DevilsPR) They begin their longest road trip of the season, five games in nine days beginning in Carolina with stops in Anaheim, L.A., San Jose, and concluding in Seattle. With Anaheim and San Jose sitting in the bottom five of the league the Devils should consider nothing less than a six point road trip a success and, if they can maintain the pace set through the first half, eight points.
The most critical game is the first against the Hurricanes who have a four-point lead on the Devils in the Metropolitan Division and have dropped three in a row since defeating the Devils in a shootout on New Year's Day in Newark. The Devils beat the Carolina Hurricanes 5-3 on January 10 to pull within two points of them in the Metropolitan Division. Dawson Mercer scored twice, including the go-ahead goal in the third period to lead the Devils to a victory in Raleigh.
There are myriad reasons why teams thrive on the road and struggle at home. Ruff indicated that he believes that the Devils play a more simple, fundamental game when they are on the road. It leads to more opportunities and a sounder game, noting that often teams get "jazzed" up by the home crowds and try to put on a show rather than keeping it simple.
Veteran defenseman Brendan Smith discussed the team's road success prior to leaving for Carolina. He attributed the success on the road to several factors including being prepared for a dogfight on the road in hostile environments, starting on time and playing well consistently from puck drop, and knowing that on the road they can't depend on the crowd's energy and have to supply that themselves. Hischier credits the team's road successes to limiting turnovers and making teams work for and earn every chance.
Jack Hughes
When the Devils spent the first pick overall in the 2019 NHL Draft on Jack Hughes, they did so envisioning that he would one day become one of the elite players in the league. Just over three years later, that day has come. Hughes, recently named to his second All Star Game, and was also named the NHL's Second Star of the Week. His counting stats are off the charts, 26 goals, 49 points in just 40 games this season putting him on a pace to likely break the Devils single season records in both categories.
He has also getting credit from the analytics crowd and now being talked about as a potential Hart Trophy (MVP) Candidate with the likes of Connor McDavid and Auston Matthews. Hughes currently leads the NHL in 5-v-5 goals with 18. His five-game goal scoring streak was snapped against Carolina, but Hughes has been hot for the Devils since the start of the New Year.
Notes
The Devils recalled Forward Nolan Foote from Utica today as a precautionary measure in case Wood was unable to play. Foote has excelled in the AHL putting up 19 points in 33 games.
The Devils' next game against the Anaheim Ducks will not be on MSG instead on Hulu/ESPN+ only.
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