The New Jersey Devils came into the weekend 2-0-0 on their swing through the Pacific Northwest. With wins over the Vancouver Canucks and Seattle Kraken, things were looking good again.
They had the two Alberta teams on the slate over the weekend. They would have liked to have won both but splitting at a minimum would complete a solid road trip. They did just that with a 4-2 win over the Flames at the Scotiabank Saddledome and a 4-1 loss to the Edmonton Oilers at Rogers Place.
It would have been nice to end the trip with a win but the Edmonton Oilers have it all going for them right now. They are now on a seven-game heater following the victory over the Devils. Sometimes, a tip of the cap is necessary.
Nico Hischier was the most prominent figure in these two games. He has been just as important to this team as Jack Hughes which is saying something. It shows in his results in all three zones. Hischier even had an assist in the 4-1 loss to Edmonton.
The New Jersey Devils went 3-1-0 on their Pacific Northwest road trip
Speaking of Jack Hughes, he doesn’t have a point in his last three games. That is incredibly unusual as he almost has as many three-point games as 0-1-point games. It isn’t for a lack of chances so it is clear that his slump is almost over.
The Devils entered this trip coming off a bad loss to the San Jose Sharks. The vibes were down so they needed to perform in a big way on the road. Despite ending it with a loss, they should feel they accomplished much on this trip. Collecting 6 out of 8 points over any stretch is good but it was essential over this run of games.
The Devils were missing Erik Haula on Sunday and it was noticeable. He is a big part of what the Devils do on both offense and defense so they can only hope that he gets back soon. The team is overall healthier and it is showing in their play. That must continue.
Their next chance to get back in the win column is on Wednesday. It won’t be easy as they take on the Boston Bruins. This is a big chance for them to prove that they are all the way “back”.