The New Jersey Devils are not having the season that they through t they were going to have. They are by no means bad and they are still very much in the playoff race but they aren’t elite.
They are on the verge of being elite but have taken a step back so far this year. They are into the second half of the season and some things need to change if they are going to come through and be a playoff team in a very packed Eastern Conference.
There is a long way to go but they can’t allow themselves to get buried too far otherwise they will be toast. It is hard to make up ground in this league with the three-point system so they better start winning again and fast.
If they want to get back on track and stay on track, there are a few actions they can take. These are the three things that they should consider right now:
Lindy Ruff’s time as New Jersey Devils head coach may need to be over
The New Jersey Devils had a very good year with Lindy Ruff last season. They were as good as anyone could have hoped for but last season is last season. Now, Lindy seems to be a detriment to the team.
In Wednesday’s loss to the Montreal Canadiens, the Devils played an okay game and still lost 3-2. They clawed out of a 2-0 deficit but gave up a late regulation goal to lose with nothing to show for it.
Alexander Holtz tied the game in the third period on the power play but only played two shifts after that because Lindy Ruff didn’t like a play he made earlier in the game. When asked about it, he got mad at the reporter and acted like a know-it-all.
If the Devils believe that a new coach will come in and make this team play fast, inspired hockey again, they should do so. Windows can close quickly and every season is sacred. There is no time to waste.