It’s 2016 and the New Jersey Devils face their toughest month of hockey this January with non-stop tests from contending hockey powers.
By Patrick Comia
Starting today, the team will embark on their toughest stretch of hockey, up to this point. In the next 12 days, the Devils will face some of today’s hockey powers including the Dallas Stars, Boston Bruins, and St. Louis Blues.
It’s not for the faint of heart, but if the Devils can emerge from these games with at least a point, then they can establish their claim as a contender in the Eastern Conference.
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While looking to catch the first place Washington Capitals in the Metropolitan Division is not in their immediate future, the New York Rangers and Islanders are within a couple of points of being caught.
And with their all-time franchise leader in points, Patrik Elias, back on the IR list for his knee, it will be even more important for New Jersey to rise among this upcoming challenge.
That’s where players like Sergey Kalinin can become more of an impact player.
And the Devils will need him to. Despite his offensive numbers this season, just seven points in 36 games played this season, his presence on the ice seems to be growing more and more with each passing game. Fans can see the confidence he is skating with, with more ice time in key situations.
Kalinin’s mistakes are not as magnified due to his situational awareness where the puck is and who has it. He is able to make a mistake on the offensive side, and come back and help back check on the defensive side.
And with his willingness to goto the front of the net, Kalinin is becoming a weapon of choice to John Hynes’s coaching staff to be utilized when the game action warrants it.
But, all of this talk will need to be reality, if Devils fans want to believe in this team’s success. Let’s take a look at what awaits New Jersey in the coming two weeks:
Dallas Stars
Today, 6:00 PM on FSW+, MSG+
Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey
What a nice way to open your 2016 new year than a date with the NHL’s top team from the West?
Of course, the schedulers probably weren’t thinking the Stars would be this good. However, as fate would have it, Dallas has become that team everyone is gunning for this season. It seems like every night, they are winning and looking to be unstoppable.
They are 28-8-3 with 59 points and lead the Washington Capitals by one point for the President’s Trophy. Away from United Airlines Arena, Dallas is 12-4-3. However, they have lost three of their past four road games, including being outscored 6-3 to the Columbus Blue Jackets on December 29th.
This will be the first time the Devils will play the Stars, as they will play host at the Prudential Center. The team is only .500 at home this season (8-8-3). But as the Blue Jackets proved, you don’t have to be dominant in your own building to have a chance at beating your opponent.
All you need is the will to win, and the Devils are certainly capable of that. Never retreat, never surrender.
Detroit Red Wings
Monday, January 4, 6:00 PM on FSDT, MSG+
Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey
This will be the third, and final, meeting between these two teams. The Devils have won the first two games of this series, taking each game by one goal in each other’s building.
The last time New Jersey hosted Detroit at the Rock, Kyle Palmieri scored the overtime winner in a thrilling 3-2 win on December 11th. He seems to love playing the Red Wings, leading both teams in points with four (two goals, two assists).
Both teams occupy the 7th and 8th positions in the Eastern Conference playoff picture.
Montreal Canadiens
Wednesday, January 6, 6:00 PM on RSN, RDS, MSG+
Bell Centre, Montreal, Quebec
Normally, a difficult to place for opponents to skate in without fond memories.
The last time the Devils visited Montreal, they left with two points thanks to John Moore‘s overtime winner.
The win seem to boost the team’s confidence in that they can compete with the likes of the Canadiens and the rest of the Eastern Conference powers.
And with Montreal struggling without Carey Price, it would seem that confidence would manifest itself heading into this matchup.
Boston Bruins
Friday, January 8, 6:00 PM on NESN, MSG+
Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey
Back on December 20th, the Devils paid a visit to the TD Garden in Boston and wound up on the losing end of a 1-2 overtime game to the Bruins.
After that loss, the Devils won three of their next four heading into the Christmas and New Year breaks.
Cory Schneider stopped 34 of 35 shots, but was unable to snag Boston’s Ryan Spooner in the first round of the shootout.
New Jersey will look to get revenge on a Boston team who lost this year’s Winter Classic to their rival, the Canadiens. Prior to their meeting, the Bruins would have played the Washington Capitals. That would be their only game between New Year’s Day and their visit to the Prudential Center.
Minnesota Wild
Sunday, January 10, 7:00 PM on NBCS
Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul, Minnesota
This will be the first meeting of the season between the Devils and Wild. And, it will be the first time New Jersey gets national coverage, giving Steve Cangialosi and Ken Danyeko a break from play-by-play duties.
6-2. That was the score the last time New Jersey played in Minnesota on March 10th of last season. Also, that was the first of a three-game road trip.
Oddly enough, the Devils will start another multi-game game road trip when they visit the Wild.
No need for words here. As Rich Chere of NJ.com titled his postgame article, the Devils were embarrassed out of Xcel Energy Center.
This is bulletin board material for a team that would like nothing better than to turn the tables, and make last season’s poor showing a distant memory for the Wild and their fans.
St. Louis Blues
Tuesday, January 12, 7:00 PM on FSMW, MS+2
Scottrade Center, St. Louis, Missouri
On November 10th, the Devils were shutout by the Blues 2-0 at the Rock. They were done in by a familiar face in Martin Havlat, who was just sign to a one-year contract prior to meeting his old team.
It was early in the season, and the Devils were still getting adjusted to the new system of head coach John Hynes was trying to implement. However, one could sense things were starting to turn around.
Fast forward to the present, and New Jersey has been buying into their new style of play on the ice. With convincing wins over the NHL’s best and their willingness to come from behind, this game has the potential for a different outcome.