No Longer Second-Best In Second Periods Fueling Devils’ Transformation
Last season, the ice too often tilted towards the Devils’ end during second periods. New Jersey’s minus-31 goal differential in middle frames was the third worst in the league, just one goal better than Philadelphia’s.
Truth be told, the Devils were regarded as a team which could be pinned in its own zone for lengthy stretches in any period, thereby tiring out the skaters in front of their substandard goalies. The defensemen had difficulties clearing pucks and bodies from the net front, making it a shooting gallery until the whistle stopped play due to an icing, penalty, or goal against. The long change in second periods simply exacerbated their issues.
What a difference a year makes.
New Jersey, which took over the NHL lead in points (though Boston has two games in hand) with Tuesday night’s surgical 3-0 shutout of Chicago at The Rock to boost their record to an outlandish 21-4-1, has been the league’s premier second period club this season. Tallies by Devils forwards Nico Hischier and Jesper Bratt increased their league-leading second period differential to plus-19. That’s six goals better than second-place Toronto, or the same margin between the Leafs and the seventh-place Red Wings.
Though the Devils have outscored their opponents in every period this season, second periods have been by far their most productive 20-minute intervals—their goals for by period are:
First: 24
Second: 40
Third: 29
OT: 3
What gives? It’s the same two areas that have propelled the team to a historic (to date) turnaround—puck possession and goaltending.
In so many games, the Devils have monopolized the puck. They put constant pressure on opposing defensemen and then their own d-men have closed the gaps to break up plays in the neutral zone before they can get anything going in the other direction. Defensemen like John Marino and Damon Severson have been expert at stretching out opposing forecheck formations with laser passes to the Devils’ bountiful group of fleet forwards to ignite counterattacks.
If not threatening off the rush, all four Devils lines know how go to work in the cycle game, using their defensemen to pinch from the points while a forward covers for them. With splendid skaters like Hischier, Bratt, and Jack Hughes mesmerizing opponents with their ability to stop/start/change direction, the Devils can wear out opponents. During one 45-second first period sequence, Hughes absolutely toyed with the Chicago defense before he found Dougie Hamilton with a seam pass to the left circle. The Devils defenseman snapped one past Black Hawks goalie Arvid Soderblom to give New Jersey a 1-0 lead.
Again, when opponents are subject to the long change in second periods, the Devils can press their advantage further. Though I couldn’t find advanced metric breakdowns by period, the totals per NaturalStatTrick.com are sufficient evidence of the Devils’ domination--only the Hurricanes have had higher shot attempt percentages than New Jersey this season while the Devils sit atop the league in scoring chance percentage and expected goals for percentage.
And when the Devils haven’t showed up with their “A” game, like in Saturday’s 3-2 victory in Philadelphia, their goaltenders have been terrific in bailing them out.
Akira Schmid, who was called up from AHL Utica when Mackenzie Blackwood suffered a knee injury and has gone on to win five consecutive decisions, was beastly in net against the Flyers, stopping 31 of 33 shots on goal, including 11 of 12 in the second period where Philly had a 5-2 advantage in high danger scoring opportunities, per NST. His work allowed New Jersey to get out of the period tied at 1-1.
Things were far less stressful for Devils goalie Vitek Vanecek in the second period on Tuesday night, though he was needed to stone Chicago wing Colin Blackwell on a shorthanded breakaway attempt and a couple of chances from Black Hawks star Patrick Kane with the game still in the balance. Once Hischier (six-on-five delayed penalty) and Bratt (power play) broke it open, New Jersey gave Chicago very little thereafter.
This team, which followed up a record-tying 13-game win streak by winning five of its last six games (with the one loss coming in overtime), is the talk of the league. Expected by most experts in the preseason to slightly improve upon their dismal 28th place finish from last season thanks to some key veteran additions, this Devils’ incredible turnaround was totally unforeseen. From my perspective, the 180 they have done in their performances in second periods has been equally shocking.