I’ve said it a few times that I am not going to read too much into pre-season games, you never should, but that was a lot of fun. The last time on Long Island it didn’t go very well for our boys, but new year new you. From the drop of the first puck the Devils had the gas pedal on the floor, the Islanders looked lost and we speed bagged them up and down the ice all night. There wasn’t any one area where the Devils weren’t the better team.
The Devils would get on the board first, after Mantha drew a hold on the left wing boards. After some disgusting puck movement on the power play Jack found Evangelista in the bumper for his first of the pre-season:
If they’re gonna snap the puck around like that I am very encouraged about this unit.
The Devils continued to dominate the first, hemming the Islanders in their own zone regularly for long stretches but couldn’t find any more and the period came to an end up 1-0. Overall, they held the shot advantage 10-7, and dominated the dangerous areas with a 75% HD Chances advantage and nearly 70% xGF% advantage.
The second was eventful for the Devils and get started right out of the gate on a broken neutral zone play. Erod found a streaking Gritsyuk who buried a clean snipe past all world countryman Sorokin to make it 2-0 at just :42 seconds.
Less than 20 seconds later Evagelista would bury his second off a good cycle. Timo came out of the corner, found Siegs up top who threw it at the net. Nico deflected it, causing Sorokin to misplay the rebound right back out to Nico, who somehow popped it over to Evangelista who was on the doorstep.
The Devils would put on a puck possession and pressure clinic this period, continuing to pour it on and were rewarded again on a zone entry where elite playmaker Siegs found Dougie cross ice, who casually deposited it over Sorokin’s shoulder short side at 14:48. According to a tweet from Bryce Salvador the Devils only scored 3 or more goals in a 2nd period 3 times last season, so hopefully this is the type of thing they can do more regularly, it was a textbook dominating period: 10-3 shots, 85% HD Chances and 75% xGF%.
This was a little quieter from the Devils as they basically had one foot out the door, even though they had several good chances. Jack got robbed on a breakaway and Lombardi somehow hit a lob wedge from point blank range over everything. The Islanders would tack on a goal at 15:21 on a blown coverage in the slot, but that was it, simple, clean easy. 4-1 good guys.
Yes, I get it. The Islanders aren’t good and are missing a few key guys. They’re still an NHL team. From what we showed from a process, assertiveness, puck movement perspective – I am very encouraged.
Haven’t really been all that moved by Declan Chisholm and was more impressed by Ethan Edwards and Diotte this pre-season. I know he’s making the team, and hopefully we see a Colin Miller-esque turnaround. He was the only Devils defenseman under water on his metrics.
Evangelista looked a little disjointed his first game but he was outstanding tonight. You can see the vision he has, small area, quick twitch hands, and passing chops.
Alternatively, Mantha has not really stood out much to me, but as Keefe said playing with Jack and Bratt can be difficult. And frankly, I think we want him to just park himself in front and clean up.
As designed, Glass-Brown-Lombardi dominated their minutes – having a real competent 4th line is a breath of fresh air. in 9 5v5 minutes they had a 90% corsi and 100% xGF.
Luke Hughes had a very strong, stable game defensively – his gaps have been great all pre-season and the new, better forward group is much better at puck support. Only got himself in trouble once (Palmieri buried him on a retrieval).
Allen was solid with a .933 and 1.0 GSAx.
I am encouraged, now we wait 5 agonizing days.
LGD
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