The New Jersey Devils walked into their bye week following their worst stretch of the season. They need to take this time to regroup for a very difficult second half.
As Brock Nelson’s fifth-round shootout goal whizzed past Cory Schneider, the New Jersey Devils entered their bye week on a five-game losing streak. The club captured three out of a possible 10 points on this stretch and that obviously won’t cut it, especially with the way the schedule is set up the rest of the way.
They are 22-11-8 exactly halfway through the season. This seemed like a pipe dream before the season, but here we are. The expectations have gone from a bubble team that probably won’t make the playoffs all the way to a team that can host Game 1 of a playoff series in 2018.
They don’t have the easiest way there, so let’s take a look at the schedule for the last 41.
Upcoming Schedule
As a broad overview to break down the Devils second half schedule, they have 19 of their 31 Eastern Conference games against Metropolitan Division teams. Their other 10 games will be against teams in the West. 21 of these games will be played at the Rock and the other 20 will take place on the road.
If the Devils can continue how they were playing for the first 36 games, they will run into a very tough road trip in mid-March. They go to Vegas, Los Angeles, Anaheim, San Jose and then cap that off with a trip to Pittsburgh. This will be a stretch that can make or break the Devils season. Obviously today we don’t know where the Devils will be mid-March but if they are in contention, this six-game stand will determine the Devils schedule come playoff time.
Right after this tough trek, the Devils will come home for four games in a row where they will host Tampa, Carolina, Pittsburgh, and the New York Islanders. If the road trip is successful this will be a tremendous chance for the Devils to solidify a place in the top three of the Metropolitan division.
All-Star Game update
Taylor Hall will be the only player representing the Devils in Tampa for the NHL All-Star Game. Hall had a few funny takes on his Twitter about it.
I guess the @NHL couldn’t let all 24 of the @NJDevils into the #NHLAllStar Game. Pumped to be representing Jersey in Tampa! pic.twitter.com/TkEFpLdLHN
— Taylor Hall (@hallsy09) January 10, 2018
Hall has had some success when it comes to the three-on-three format of the game. He even let his Twitter fingers do some talking.
And people say I’m not a winner.
— Taylor Hall (@hallsy09) January 10, 2018
It’s a joke buddy
— Taylor Hall (@hallsy09) January 10, 2018
All jokes aside, Taylor Hall deserves to represent the Devils in the All-Star Game. In 39 games, Hall has 15 goals and 27 assists good enough for 19th in the NHL.
The Devils are just seven games away from the NHL All-Star break. Four of those seven games will take place against teams in the Metropolitan division, so you’d like to see the Devils take nine or ten of the 14 possible points.
Other Devils News, Stories
- The All-Star Game is upon us. Check out Frank Curto’s thoughts on the event as a whole for Elite Sports NY.
- We’re not that far into 2018 just yet. Take a look at my New Jersey Devils year in review for ESNY.
- Also, check out Andrew Gross’ article on the New Jersey Devils returning to the ice this weekend.
