From the who woulda thought file…..
The Devils go into tomorrow’s meeting with the Rangers in a very unexpected position indeed. They are actually within shouting distance of not only the best record in the conference but best record in the league.
The Devils stand 32-15-6….just 53 games into the season. Granted there is a long way to go….but they are just four points out of first in the Eastern Conference and just seven points out of first in the race for the President’s trophy. I don’t think any Devils fan saw this coming honestly. The Devils are a good team and last year’s team with Elias was on fire. However, to be 17 games over .500 with 29 games left is very surprising, given the circumstances.
They have absorbed the normally season deflating massacre that most teams get at least once during the season. The 8-1 drubbing on October 21st at Ottawa is a very far distant memory, except maybe for the Devils, who have a memory like an elephant. They don’t score that much. The Devils have scored 143 goals which is the worst in the Eastern Conference and sixth worst overall. The penalty killing has gone in the tank since the All Star Break giving up 6 power play goals in five games…including a three game stretch where the Devils only killed five of eleven power play chances. The topper is the Devils still play to the level of their competition most of the time. Even in victory, they will struggle against teams they have no business struggling against….like the last two meetings against the Flyers where they needed goals in the last minute to eventually win the game via OT or shootout.
Just when you think it is all bad….that and the minor detail of one line does most of the scoring while the other scoring line takes the night off…all is rather well. As a body of work, the defense has been playing with Jennings trophy like intensity. Brodeur’s GAA has risen a bit to 2.08 but his overall presence is that of a MVP candidate. His clutch saves have led the way for the Devils who may have a shot at the #1 spot overall in the league. Jay Pandolfo is up to his old tricks again and may be up for the Selke and if there was an award to the best second year player, that may just go to Zach Parise who is developing into a very good two way center.
The Devils are not playing great by any stretch in their first 53 games but they have a chance in their last 29 (if previous Devil trends hold true) and make a charge that won’t leave them breathless come the playoffs. Maybe this time they will have something left in the tank after the first round….or is that maybe Brodeur will. Because as Brodeur goes…so go the Devils.
