Ten Takeaways: The Week That Was

Something had to give, and it did on Sunday evening in Boston. The Devils finally putting their five-game slide to an end, and in a hard-fought, dig-in and win kind of way. Against the Boston Bruins no less. But before that performance, it wasn't an easy week, that's for sure but we still have to dig into it in this week's Ten Takeaways.

1. Welcome to Monday!

For those of you who didn't catch my message last week, we've moved Ten Takeaways to Mondays. So, from here on out, make sure to start your week off right and check out the week that was for the New Jersey Devils.

2. Thank You for Holding

I told you that eventually when there was a more concrete update, you'd get it. Unfortunately, it's never the type of news I like to pass on, with a player suffering an injury that will keep them out 'week-to-week.
That's where Nico Hischier is at right now with a sinus fracture, and you just have to feel so tremendously bad for him, fighting his way back from his leg injury only to have another injury to have to recover from, after playing just five games.

3. A Sense of Normalcy

It's truly the little things that count right now, especially as we all continue to figure out a new normal. On Saturday, our second game at Prudential Center with fans this year, I was getting ready to film my post-game report in the player tunnel and a fan yelled down 'Hi, Amanda!" This is not some sort of showboating moment; it was just this really honest moment where everything felt completely as it was once before. Little moments like that bring me so much joy.

4. A Harsh Critique

A tough homestand like the one the Devils just had, five straight home games without a single point, and even more disappointing to see how they closed it out against the Rangers on Saturday. It was a moment that called some immense honesty. And that's exactly what Lindy Ruff provided publicly. I will always have time for vocal constructive criticism, which is what Ruff offered on Saturday evening.
"If you saw our puck play if you saw that first pass. I'm embarrassed how badly we passed the puck tonight, and some of the puck decisions we made," Ruff said. "I'm just flat-out embarrassed."
That's not a word to be taken lightly.

5. Ending the Slide

But what a way to put that behind them. Yes, it's just one game, but that shutout win against the Boston Bruins was huge. I can't possibly imagine the mental fortitude it took for Scott Wedgewood to settle into a game against one of the best in the division, with the firepower the Bruins have andnot having played since January 30th. It was the first time in his career that he has posted two shutouts in a single season. His last shutout came on January 24th against the Islanders, which was a 28-save performance.
"It feels awesome," was how Kyle Palmieri described the final result, adding, "I think after this past week we took the opportunity this morning to really examine our game individually, as a team, …] the game [Saturday] was a bit of a low point for our group as a whole, and I think it was time for us to take a look at the things that made us successful."
[Tweet from @NJDevils: pic.twitter.com/9MWwT5NwYQ

6. What Wedgewood Did

Wedgewood became one of only five different goaltenders in franchise history to record a 40-plus save shutout. He joins Martin Brodeur (1999, 2010), who did it twice, Chico (1983), Sean Burke (1988), and Mackenzie Blackwood (2020).

7. What Else?

Wedgewood has four shutouts in just 30 NHL games played. That's pretty impressive.

8. Jesper's Played How Many Games?

Time sure flies. I remember coming into the organization at the beginning of the 2017-18 season and meeting Jesper Bratt who was the talk of the town, a sixth-round pick who came into training camp and forced management's hand to keep him on the NHL roster with his play in camp.
Fast forward…. Jesper just played his 200th career game. Where does the time go?
Of his 2016 draft class, only 11 other players have played over 200 games. Of those 11 players, Nashville draft pick Samuel Girard is the lowest drafted player taken with the 47th pick in the draft.
Jesper was drafted 162nd.

Tweet from @NJDevils: Congrats on #200, Jesper! pic.twitter.com/sqIVEPujmh

9. Congrats to Graeme

Because this is a short week to cover (our last Ten Takeaways came out last Wednesday), how about we take a look at what else is going on in the franchise. With Binghamton in
Newark
for the season, it's been great getting to know some of the other players I don't normally have the opportunity to get to know before they get called up to the NHL.
That includes Graeme Clarke.
The 2019, 80th overall pick signed his first professional contract on Saturday, March 6th. Later that night, he had banked his first professional career goal.

Fellow rookie Nolan Foote was the one who scooped up the puck for safe-keeping, making sure Clarke has that puck for the collection.

10. Happy International Women's Day!

Around the Devils, there are so many women who work behind the scenes to keep this hockey club going. I know how hard they all work, how vital they are to the day-to-day operations and long-term process of this franchise, and I am all the better for being their peer. We're lucky in this sport to have so many women keeping the engine running.
Tweet from @NJDevils: We see a number of inspiring Devils women on this list!Check out https://t.co/Y88oHwmV5D as the League highlights women across the hockey community.#HockeyisForEveryone | #WomensDay https://t.co/JaK4XMRgSp