The last two months have been filled with ups and downs for the New Jersey Devils.
Now they hope a solid effort in a losing thing in their latest excursion will help get things on track when they open a five-game road trip with a visit Nashville Predators on Sunday.
The devils come from a 4-2 setback against the Dallas stars on Saturday. They have changed profits and losses in the last seven games and are 7-10-3 in the last 20 matches. It is a picture that started on December 28, when a loss to Carolina Hurricanes snapped a winning line with three games.
New Jersey entered that game against Carolina in the first place in the Metropolitan Division, with a three -point lead at Washington Capitals. It has since fallen to third and is now 14 points behind the capitals.
“From a process point of view? The things we struggled to go into the break, we showed up very well,” said Devils coach Sheldon Keefe. “Had more legs, more energy. Gave up some really advanced chances against which will turn up the expected goals and all this, but we played well.”
Jack Hughes, just two days away from playing for Team USA in his 3-2 overtime loss to Canada in the 4 Nations Face-off Championship game, picked up where he ended up for New Jersey before the tournament and scored both goals.
He has five goals in his last four games and has 11 points (eight goals, three assists) in the last nine matches. He has been held by the result only once during that stretch.
“He has been good for us all year,” said Devils Captain Nico Hischier. “Not much to say about him. Two big goals. We eventually knew it would come and Jack got up for the team.”
The predators meanwhile entering Sunday’s slope and looking for a third straight victory for the first time in a month. Nashville went away with a 2-1 victory against Colorado Avalanche on Saturday.
It has been a disappointing season for predators, whose additions outside the season of Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchesault and Brady Skjei led to high hopes on his way into the campaign. Instead, the team sits 16 points from a playoffs and 30th NHL in points.
“We are trying to commit to playing properly,” said Predator’s defender Luke Schen. “Of course, we understand what the position is, but we have a lot of pride in this room. We just want to continue to build and play for each other and just give an honest effort.”
Marchesault counted the game winner against Colorado halfway through the third period and gave him 18 goals in the season – almost after Filip Forsberg, who leads the team by 21. Which extended his point strip to four matches and set up seven points (three goals, four assists) in it the span.
“It’s something we can build up,” said Nashville coach Andrew Brunette. “It was a truly positive gain for our group, and I think it’s something that [the players] Do you want to be in the route here that we have to find and build. We want to make sure that our culture is here in the future. “
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