As the playoff crunch begins, one thing is certain: the top two lines for the New Jersey Devils cannot be understated. Their top-six forwards are the driving force behind the team. Ondrej Palat, Jack Hughes, and Jesper Bratt have contributed 24 goals so far this season, which is the most out of any line. Unsurprisingly, Stefan Noesen, Nico Hischier, and Timo Meier have the second-best numbers, with an impressive 62.50 goals for percentage (GF%). However, additional momentum is needed to propel the Devils to the postseason, and it appears that every line is struggling as of late.
With so much offensive capability, it’s hard to believe that the Devils have a 2-4-3 record throughout January. Every team has their rough patches, but their biggest issue keeps resurfacing. If the Devils want to remain serious playoff contenders, one glaring problem needs to be addressed: their bottom-six. Their third and fourth lines continue to struggle, making fans wonder how many games resulted in a loss due to a lack of depth scoring.
Veterans Must Step Up
Veteran presence is a crucial part of any roster, because the team needs experienced players who can set an example. Currently, the Devils have Tomas Tatar, Curtis Lazar, and Erik Haula serving as veteran third and fourth-liners. All three have suffered various injuries, but veteran point production as a whole has drastically declined.
Tatar has dealt with offensive struggles, with just two points so far in January. However, he was able to snap his 19-game goalless streak in Sunday’s game against the Ottawa Senators. Hopefully, Tatar can turn his performance around as the Devils continue their race to the playoffs, but he needs to generate more scoring opportunities.
Haula has missed the past seven games with a sprained ankle, but his numbers took a downward spiral long before he suffered an injury. He went pointless throughout all of December, and his last goal came on Nov. 25 against the Detroit Red Wings.
Lazar is in a similar scoring slump. Since returning to the lineup in mid-December after having knee surgery, he has contributed only one assist. The Devils cannot afford to let their playoff hopes be crushed by injuries and inconsistencies, so it is important that key veteran players start to prove their worth.
Underwhelming Performance, Concerning Statistics
Initially, Justin Dowling was recalled from the Utica Comets to fill the third-line center spot in place of Haula….
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