At this point, I think it’s safe to say most Devils fans are or have been Deviled out. Especially after Jack Hughes and four other starters got shut down, we knew the remaining games wouldn’t be easy watches.
For the brave Devils fans who’ve continued to watch this horrible team, I don’t know why you do it. As for the other half of Devils fans who haven’t watched them in a month, I’ll give you this week’s recap of the Devils’ play and results.
What a week it was for the New Jersey Devils. On Monday, they were the heroes of the NHL, but by the end of the week, they were back down in the basement. In a week that saw them go 1-2-1, they played their best hockey against the two better teams and embarrassing hockey against the two bad ones. It was another insufferable week in Devils-land, yet they found even more ways to display themselves as a laughingstock.
Lucky out in Vegas
Like I said, all fans around the NHL were thanking the Devils after Andrew Hammond and co. beat the Vegas Golden Knights.
For Vegas, a team that is on the outside of the playoff picture looking in, every win is crucial, especially those against lowly teams like the Devils. So, what did Vegas do? They got stonewalled by Andrew Hammond and had their 9-million-dollar defenseman in Alex Pietrangelo get walked by Jesper Boqvist.
The Hamburgular returned to his glory days, saving 42/44 and all but eliminated the Golden Knights barring a Stars and or Predators meltdown.
Also, in the process, they may have gotten their former head coach, Pete DeBoer fired, so maybe we’ll see a reunion in the Garden State.
Hamburglar steals the show again
After putting on a clinic in the desert, Hammond did all but the opposite back at rock on Thursday. Hammond got more Bronx cheers than actual cheers in a 5-2 loss to the Buffalo Sabres.
In the contest, Hammond gave up a shorthanded goal from beyond the blueline, then gave up another horrendous shorthanded goal a minute later. A broken stick bankshot off Dawson Mercer made it 3-0. And to top it all off, the Devils did what they do best, giving up first career goals, this time former first overall pick Owen Power.
In the process, Hammond surrendered -2.4 goals than expected, according to Evolving Hockey. Realistically four of the five goals could have been saved.
Normal Weekend
Two weekend matinee games are supposed to be enjoyable for both the fans and the players. Instead, like all season long, no fans showed up to the games, and the Devils lost both.
On Saturday’s contest against Carolina, the Devils were pitching a shutout for 55 minutes. They then gave up three goals in six minutes and lost 3-2 in overtime. Devils Hockey. Maybe one day this team will learn how to keep a lead.
To top the week all off, they were shut out by the Detroit Red Wings, who have arguably the worst defensive team since their 10-goal meltdown to Toronto back in late February. Since then, they’ve given up an 11-goal game, a nine-goal game, two sevens, three-six goalers, and six five-goal games in about two months.
The Devils were nice enough to give them their third shutout of the year, thanks to mustering just 17 shots on goal.
Don’t get me wrong, the Hammond performance was pathetic, but 17 shots against the Red Wings is a complete embarrassment.
Our last look ahead to next week
I may rip on the Devils, but after this season ends this Friday, I’ll miss watching them a week later. The Devils have three games remaining. They travel to Ottawa on Tuesday, followed by their final road game against Carolina, which may see some Rangers fans watching. And to wrap up the season, the Devils will have an opportunity to avenge this loss to the Red Wings by taking them in the season finale.
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