The Devils decisively won in regulation? It’s a new year miracle!
What’s on your mind?
[VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS!](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMDyMmhAmHk)
[ESPN Game Cast](https://www.espn.com/nhl/game/_/gameId/401559815)
ESPN’s *Three Stars of the Game*: Cap’n Nico 1st, Dawson 2nd, some rando, 3rd.
[NHL Game Center](https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/njd-vs-wsh/2024/01/03/2023020587)
[Shift Chart](http://www.shiftchart.com/game/2024-01-03-devils-capitals)
[2023-24 Regular Season Schedule (January, all times EST)](https://www.nhl.com/devils/schedule/2024-01-01)
by Devil_Dane
12 Comments
Huge win. Not only because they beat a team they’ve struggled a great deal with in recent years to put themselves back into wild card position, and did it without Dougie, Timo and Palat. But also because they did it on a night where goaltending was not particularly strong, penalty killing was bad, defense was at times sloppy, the refs were fucking atrocious and Jack didn’t look particularly magical. And they did it in regulation!
The most striking thing for me was the resiliency. Last season, it felt like they could never be counted out of a game, and this season it more often feels like we’re just waiting for the team to fall apart. But a bit more often recently, they manage to keep it together and strike right back. It’s refreshing to see, and it’s exciting how many guys are rising up to play hero—very strong showings tonight from Mercer, Holtz and, as usual these days, Mikey McLeod.
Not a perfect game, but a good, encouraging win. And most important of all, it means that our Swiss Prince is going to have a happy birthday. At the end of the day, isn’t that what this is all about?
Go Devils. And fuck Tom Wilson. And also fuck the refs. And fuck Kuz with his flapping wing celebration. But mostly go Devils.
Obviously an important win but letting in 2 PP goals is a big problem. Our PK has been mediocre all season and really hurts us in close games. Nice to score 6 but I would have been happier with a 3-2 win. Daws was OK but needs to be sharper. Needed to make one more save. McLeod is the new Blake Coleman. He’s heart and soul and needs to be re signed.
We’re now in 5th place. Win our 2 games in hand and we’re in 2nd place. We have the third most wins in this absolute bloodbath of a division, and fifth most in the conference.
We’ve had the worst goaltending in the league, we’re missing our top paid defenseman, missed our captain and arguably best overall player for quite a chunk, we’re missing our top paid forward who was playing injured for apparently a while, and have plenty of other injuries up and down the lineup thus far.
Tell me again why Lindy should be fired?
Y’all were ready to sell on McLeod a few years ago. Bros never taken a single shift at less than 110% since he was drafted.
Winning culture starts with guys like that
Going to be real interesting who starts which game Friday and Saturday. They trusted Daws to play our arguably most important game of the season so far last night and he played “fine.” While letting in a couple of meh goals he did give us quite a few saves that I wouldn’t trust VV to make.
Logic would say to put Daws in for Chicago, but with VV’s total collapse against the Canucks last time I’d go VV for Chicago.
Too much daws shame here, let’s not forget he did only let in one even strength goal and the other ones were power play
Is Michael McLeod…good? He skates like the wind, drives play, creates chaos in front of the net, and might be emerging as the NHL’s all-time best face-off taker.
Maybe this was brought up already. Why was Ovi allowed to check Jack in the back 3 ft from and directly into the boards at end of 1st… get that refs won’t call that because it’s Ovi but why did the TNT crew then celebrate a super dangerous hit?
Some great plays, love it when we score straight after the other team, one of those weird games (probably just my low hockey iq) but didn’t feel like we were dominating but we did best in the decisive moments, wouldn’t go as far as saying winning ugly but definitely winning the little parts that matter most. Feel like there’s a lot of confidence building in the team.
I like Toffoli and he’s an important piece on this team. But I don’t see how we can sign him next year if we also want to keep Mercer and McLeod
Some areas of the game that still need to be tightened up, especially in closing out the end of periods. But aside from that solid team effort all around. Sal called during the pre-game, the team needs to get a decisive win to leapfrog the caps to show everyone that we’re taking this playoff spot in the driver’s seat and not looking back. Also this game was very obviously managed by the refs to keep the caps in in and while they had some life there for a bit at the end of the first and the second we just took the game over in the third. That was encouraging. I get the caps were on the second night of a back to back but they are a veteran team that has the mental toughness to handle those situations and also a team that seems to always have our number regardless of what year it is.
Big shoutout to the guy who posted the Lindy Ruff iPhone wallpaper. I can’t not rock that as my background. You know you should too.
Nemec, looking very solid the last few weeks, had in my non-professional opinion, an amazing last game last night. Considering it’s like his 20th game, I’m very excited.