Playing for their postseason lives against their hated divisional rival, Thursday’s game had the makings of a statement performance for the New Jersey Devils.
It sure was — and it may have effectively stamped their golfing dates for mid-April. The New York Rangers’ 5-1 road win told only part of the story of a dominant performance that extended to the physical battle and revealed the Devils as a team at a crossroads, now five points out of a playoff spot with 26 games remaining.
What will they do to turn this campaign around?
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Former player-turned-NHL-on-TNT-commentator Paul Bissonnette has an idea, and in presenting it, he blasted the Devils’ attitude.
“I still think the Devils can save their season by getting (Jacob Markstrom),” Bissonnette wrote on X during the game. “He’d be their toughest player too so give up whatever you gotta give to get a heavyweight in the lineup. They’re soooooft.”
Bissonnette was responding to a clip of his “Spittin’ Chiclets” podcast in which he suggested the goalie would transform the Devils into his No. 2-feared team in the Eastern Conference, behind the Florida Panthers. “He’s not just a goalie. He’s a leader in the locker room,” Bissonnette said. “He’s a man of presence, where, when you look at him, he commands respect. That’s what I think they need.”
The goalie discussion has circled the franchise for years, further coming into focus over the past year as the Devils crested into a legitimate contender who reached the second round of the playoffs and knocked off the Rangers in the opening round. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported Feb. 10 that the Devils had “legit conversations” with the Calgary Flames about Markstrom, but there were “issues” on the trade package and salary retention; Markstrom has a cap hit of $6 million and two years left on his deal.
But to call out the Devils’ toughness and suggest that Markstrom — who has a 2.58 goals-against average and .914 SV% — would be their toughest player? That’s a new level of five-alarm fire.
Bissonnette’s feeling is not necessarily wrong, especially after watching the Devils against the Rangers, who imposed their will all night and just looked more commanding in general. It started with a hit from 6-foot-8 Matt Rempe on Nathan Bastian that triggered a match penalty and continued when captain Jacob Trouba hit Bastian again, cleanly, later in the game. In general, the Devils are a skill-and-finesse team: They can make opponents pay in the blink of an eye, but they can also be intimidated, too.
“I’m a little surprised to not see more edge (from the Devils),” said Rangers’ Hall of Fame goalie Henrik Lundqvist on the MSG broadcast.
The Devils’ team save percentage ranks 30th in the NHL at .892, while their goals-against average of 3.48 is 26th. They are 12th in the league in scoring with 3.32 goals per game.
Will something change? The trade deadline is March 8.
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