Puck Prose
Fansided

NHL Power Rankings: Chicago Loses Top Spot, Minnesota Falls Hard

By Trin Potratz

Mar 15, 2017; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Calgary Flames defenseman Dougie Hamilton (27) celebrates his goal with teammates against the Boston Bruins during the second period at Scotiabank Saddledome. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 15, 2017; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Calgary Flames defenseman Dougie Hamilton (27) celebrates his goal with teammates against the Boston Bruins during the second period at Scotiabank Saddledome. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 31
Next
nhl power rankings
NHL Power Rankings: New Jersey Devils goalie Cory Schneider (35) defends his net during the first period of their game against the San Jose Sharks at Prudential Center. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports /

Previous Ranking: 30 (-)

Team Record: (25-31-12)

Goals For:

153

Goals Against:

197

Special Teams

PP: (17.9 percent) (20th)
PK: (80.5 percent) (19th)

Injury List

Devante Smith-Pelly – Lower-Body – Day-to-Day
Mike Cammalleri – Upper-Body – Day-to-Day
Jacob Josefson – Upper-Body – Day-to-Day
Marc Savard – Concussion – Indefinitely

Statistical Leaders in 2016-17

Top Forward: Kyle Palmieri (66gp 22g 22a 44pts)
Top Defenseman: Damon Severson (67gp 3g 26a 29pts)
Top Rookie: Pavel Zacha (56gp 8g 9a 17pts)
Top Goaltender: Cory Schneider (19 wins 2.72GAA .911 save percentage)

Player of the Week: RW Kyle Palmieri (2gp 2g 0a 2pts)

The Devils are in the midst of one of the worst losing streaks of the 2016-17 NHL season. The Devils lost to the league-worst Colorado Avalanche and second worst Arizona Coyotes to further their place amongst the NHL’s worst. The Devils have now lost 10 games in a row, and six in a row in regulation. They didn’t have another chance to end their streak as their game against the Winnipeg Jets was postponed due to weather.

Kyle Palmieri led the way offensively, while Beau Bennett, Taylor Hall, Joe Blandisi and Damon Severson also had a pair of points on the week. The Devils are in an identity crisis this season as their addition of Taylor Hall in the offseason hasn’t helped their offensive issues, and losing Adam Larsson seems to have hindered their defensive abilities.

The Devils have free-fallen to the bottom of the Eastern Conference and are now only two points up on the Arizona Coyotes. The best news is that they are increasing their draft position to the point they could be selecting Nolan Patrick or Nico Hirschier. It won’t get any easier to end their losing streak down the stretch as the Devils will be taking on the Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Columbus Blue Jackets and New York Rangers in the coming week.

Weekly Prospect Profile: Yegor Rykov, St. Petersburg (KHL)

2016-17 stats: 47gp 0g 9a 9pts

The Devils selected the Russian defender in the fifth round of the 2016 NHL Draft with hopes that he would develop his game in the KHL before turning pro. In his post-draft season, Rykov has put up nine assists on a stacked KHL team that includes Ilya Kovalchuk, Pavel Datsyuk, and Slava Voynov. The biggest question with Rykov is if he will have any interest in coming to play in the NHL. Rykov’s best attribute is his leadership, as he wore an alternate captain’s “A” on his jersey at the most recent World Juniors.

Home/Editorials