For a team that is normally so good at home….a home losing streak is like the haymaker right thrown from out of nowhere and then it hits you square in the jaw and knocks you over. Then you groggily get up and wonder what the heck happened. This is where the Devils are now. Despite being only two points out of first…they are also four points from losing the division lead. Most would think this is a position of weakness but actually it is a position of strength.
Now what needs to improve? Simply….the health of its key players is a big first step. Gionta has to get to the point where he is 100% so if it means resting him a couple extra weeks then so be it. Elias and Madden hopefully aren’t hurt too bad…neither injury appeared to be too serious at all. When you lose your last four at home…and you lose to Boston and Toronto the way they did….it does raise some red flags. Last night was more of the same….flat start and by letting another team off the map…it cost the Devils a couple valuable points in the standings.
The strangest thing is this….the Devils have been really good on the road….almost scary type good. Now obviously they always haven’t played their best but somehow more times than not…they come out with points. Since starting out 3-8-2 on the road…the Devils have bounced back amazingly with a 17-3-1 mark in their last 21 road contests. The reason is simple…they focus better on the road. I firmly believe the lameduck arena syndrome has finally set in and when they are on the road they just tend to feed off the opposing crowd. To further fuel this theory….a little tale of the tape on Brodeur himself.
Marty’s road stats….
32 games….19-10-3 2.15 GAA .929 save percentage
Marty’s home stats….
35 games….22-9-4 2.16 GAA .918 save perentage
Sure there are a combination of factors for this…but this always rings true….Brodeur and the Devils play a better road game. Whether this is the product of the CAA, no one will really know until next year. The Devils have always been strong on the road but this year they have been uncharacteristically devilish even for them. The discipline and solid play that has carried them has to come back home…or why have home ice advantage come playoff time? Will the Devils be able to solve this? Stay tuned.
