To quote Glen Powell’s Top Gun: Maverick character Hangman, “What is with these two?”
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The New Jersey Devils and their American Hockey League affiliate, Utica Comets, are winless through a combined four games to start the 2025 calendar year.
The Devils have been outscored 6-2 since ringing in the new year, losing to the Los Angeles Kings and San Jose Sharks.
While there were things to like in their loss to the Kings, Devils head coach Sheldon Keefe was visibly frustrated after his team’s 3-2 loss to the Sharks. His team gave up the game-winning goal with 25 seconds remaining in the game.
“The structure is off because we are not working, we are not skating, we are not connected as a result,” Keefe said. “When you are just off by one stride, this is the NHL. If you are off by one stride, hanging around on offense, or you swing away, you expose the game unnecessarily.
“It opens up the game for the opposition, and you are less likely to get the chances yourself to get the chances the other way,” he continued. “A lot of why we are not scoring is connected to the fact that we are not defending properly. We are not defending hard enough. You get what you deserve.”
Since returning from the League’s three-day mandatory holiday break, the Devils have played loose defensively and sometimes looked disconnected.
“We are not dialed in anymore,” Hischier said after Saturday’s loss in San Jose. “We’re giving them way too easy offense, pucks on their own sticks, and even against teams like (San Jose), they’re going to make you pay for it. Just not as sharp, and we’ve got to dig in.”
Jan 4, 2025; San Jose, California, USA; New Jersey Devils head coach Sheldon Keefe (center) stands behind the bench before the start of the third period against the San Jose Sharks at SAP Center at San Jose. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images
Things are not looking better up the New York Thruway.
The Comets have been outshot 11-4 over their last two games, with their latest defeat ending in a 7-2 final against the Belleville Senators.
“The biggest thing that stuck out was when you have one line that is competing as hard as they did and as successful as they were, it really shows you how much more other people could have been providing and how much harder other guys could have been playing…