The Devils deserved better. They played well enough to win against the Senators Monday night, however, they suffered a 3-2 shootout setback in the first of a three-game homestand at Prudential Center.
On the bright side, the Devils were the better team and should have won the game, and did earn one point. On the not-so-bright side, the Devils were the better team and should have won teh game, and only earned one point.
"There were a lot of parts of our game I liked," head coach Lindy Ruff said. "From a defending standpoint and doing some good stuff in the offensive zone, we didn't get rewarded. That's probably a game that you have to win 2-1."
Josh Norris scored the game-deciding shootout tally. Drake Batherson and Brady Tkachuk scored for Ottawa.
The Devils received goals from Damon Severson and Nathan Bastian.
New Jersey snapped a three-game losing, though is still winless in its past four games.
"I think we deserved better tonight. We played well," Severson said. "We did have some Grade A looks and it just didn't go for us unfortunately."
Devils Fall, 3-2, in Shootout to Senators | GAME STORY
Despite taking 1-0 and 2-1 leads, New Jersey dropped its fourth straight game
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WHAT'S NEXT
The Devils continue their three-game homestand against the Philadelphia Flyers Wednesday. The game can be seen on MSG+ and heard on the Devils Hockey Network, including right here at NewJerseyDevils.com. Puck drop is 7:08 p.m. ET.
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Here are some observations from the game...
- It would be a little panicky to call the game against Ottawa a "must win." However, with New Jersey riding a three-game losing streak and posting a 2-6-2 mark in the past 10 games, the Devils needed badly to halt their skid. They have a three-game homestand and need to win two of the three (or collect four of a possible six points) to help keep them moving forward in their progression as a franchise. These points will be desperately needed if they want to compete in meaningful games come March. A loss to Ottawa would put them in the difficult position of needing badly to win the next two games at home (Philadelphia and Nashville). Gaining one point in the shootout gave them some breathing room, but not much.
"We can string together a couple games where we can get some wins, especially at home," Severson said. "Have a good week, have ourselves feeling good."
- Severson has been playing some of his best hockey as a Devil of late. He picked up a power-play goal against Winnipeg that snapped a 0-for-18 drought. He scored the game's opening goal vs. Ottawa for tallies in back-to-back games. And he was a constant offensive threat. Twice he had chances in tight in the third period on opportunities. He was making an impact for his team. - Happy birthday Nathan Bastian. The (now) 24-year-old picked up his third goal of the season after he drove to the net and tipped a P.K. Subban shot past Anton Forsburg. Bastian wasn't brought back to New Jersey for his scoring, but he has two goals in his past five games. The Devils will certainly take it.
"If you go to the net enough times one of them might go in," Bastian said.
- Early in the year the triumvirate of Pavel Zacha, Nico Hischier and Jesper Bratt were off. Something was missing. They weren't as explosive or effective as they've shown they can be from over the years. So, the threesome was broken up. Bratt elevated his game while working with Dawson Mercer and Andreas Johnsson, and it raised his confidence. That new machismo was present when Bratt rejoined Zacha and Hischier Friday in Winnipeg, and it looks like they've re-found some of their old magic. The realignment helped Hischier break a 10-game goal-less drought with a tally.
They were back at it again against Ottawa. The Devils scored 35 seconds into the opening period thanks to that line. Bratt picked up an assist on Severson's goal, but it was the double screen by Hischier and Zacha that allowed the puck to sneak through. Minutes later Zacha had a great chance in the low circle, but he hit the post.
However, that line was also on the ice for both Senators goals. One of which came as the result of an unforced error on a turnover by Bratt while he wasn't under any pressure.
- The Devils managed to take 1-0 and 2-1 leads in the contest. However, the elusive "next" goal evaded them. They couldn't make that 1-0 a 2-0 or that 2-1 a 3-1. That allowed Ottawa to stay in the game. New Jersey needs to develop a killer instinct against teams. Granted, it wasn't for lack of trying. But trying and finishing are two very different things. It killed them in the end on this one.
"When the game's 1-0, Zacha has a great opportunity (and hits the post)," Ruff said. "For me that would have been a big moment for us. We got off to a good start and had a really good chance, we didn't take advantage of it. There were some opportunities we left there."
- Some of the Devils' old problems resurfaced versus the Senators. On a play in the second period they over committed in the defensive zone to one side, leaving Batherson all alone on the backside. He collected a pass and buried a shot for a goal a la the San Jose game. Same period, Bratt had the puck in his own zone and had no pressure. He tried to force a pass up the middle that was intercepted a la the Winnipeg game. On the subsequent possession the Senators scored again to tie the game.
"The two plays on the goals were plays that we could have made better plays," Ruff said. "We didn't and it hurt us. Those were self-inflicted plays again. When you give the opposition a chance and they took advantage of it."
