New Jersey Devils’ 3 Stars of February – The Hockey Writers – New Jersey Devils

The New Jersey Devils had a quiet February, playing a total of seven games. Right before the 4 Nations Face-Off break, they ended on a high note with a 4-0 shutout victory over the Montreal Canadiens. But as a whole, the team had a lackluster 3-4-0 record during February, finishing it off with a crushing 5-1 loss to the Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday night.

But in spite of their recent pitfalls, there were still a few bright spots for the Devils. In the second installment of the “Three Stars of the Month” series for The Hockey Writers, here are a few players who went above and beyond throughout February.

Third Star: Nico Daws

Losing starting goaltender Jacob Markstrom was a crushing blow, but Nico Daws became an unlikely hero for the Devils. He made his first NHL appearance this season against the Buffalo Sabres, where he saved all seven shots faced after coming in to relieve Jake Allen.

Daws got the start for the following game against the Pittsburgh Penguins and rallied the team to a 3-2 shootout win. He earned a .926 save percentage (SV%) and even stopped Sidney Crosby in the shootout, which he later told the media is a moment he will never forget.

But Daws was far from finished. He took Music City by storm last Sunday, recording his first NHL shutout against the Nashville Predators. Leading the team to a 5-0 victory, Daws stopped all 29 shots and earned a career milestone all in one night.

Despite serving as a backup goaltender, Daws stopped 61 out of 63 shots faced. Likewise, he was exceptional in terms of stopping high-danger scoring chances. He made 15 high-danger saves around the crease, giving him a .938 high-danger SV%. 

His performance allowed fans to breathe a temporary sigh of relief, and he certainly proved himself in the Devils’ time of need. As it stands, New Jersey still has some of the best goaltending in the league, with an average of 2.50 goals against per game.

Second Star: Jesper Bratt

Jesper Bratt remains a critical component of the Devils’ roster. Playing on the top line alongside Ondrej Palat and Jack Hughes, he has 68 points this season. Bratt earned nine assists throughout February, three of which were on the power play.

Offensively, Bratt has been a powerhouse all season long. According to MoneyPuck, he averages 3.62 points per 60 minutes of play, and his power-play skills cannot be understated. Bratt has a 91% Corsi in 5-on-4 situations, along with a 96.8% on-ice goals…