New Jersey Devils & Related Hockey Links for 12/16/24
Here are your links for today:
Devils Links
A strong third period pushed the Devils past the Blackhawks as Dawson Mercer, Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier and Timo Meier scored to give New Jersey a 4-1 win Friday. [Devils NHL]
“Perhaps the first thing that jumped out to me is how well Luke Hughes played from games 21-30. He recorded seven points in ten games, but what’s more impressive is how good his underlying numbers were. Hughes was second on the team in expected goals share (xG%) over that stretch at 64.78 percent, with only Stefan Noesen ahead of him. It’s not just his offensive game that’s standing out, either.” [Devils on the Rush ($)]
A promising return:
Well, how about that! Curtis Lazar is on the ice for #NJDevils practice today.
He just stepped out onto the ice with teammates.
Lazar has been out since late-October with a knee injury that required surgery.
This will be his first practice with the team since then.
— Amanda Stein (@amandacstein) December 13, 2024
Hockey Links
“There is momentum for an 84-game regular season, with exhibition play cut to four games. Might not be a for a couple years, but players have been asked about it and aren’t against the idea. I also think the NHL will consider ideas to make the extra two games more than a simple one-home, one-away.” [Sportsnet]
“Save percentage has declined since peaking in 2014-15 and 2015-16 at .915, reaching an 18-year low at .903 last season. That’s the lowest it’s been since a .901 in 2005-06, which came after the cancelled 2004-05 season led to smaller goalie equipment and new rules to reduce defensive interference, and the ongoing drop could soon see it below .900….” [NHL.com]
A trade:
Cam Fowler is heading to St. Louis! pic.twitter.com/V3XVL3cJUP
— NHL (@NHL) December 14, 2024
A tantalizing trade target for each NHL team: [The Athletic ($)]
Now this is a shame:
Rangers fall to 3-10-0 in their past 13 with the three wins coming against teams with losing records (BUF, MTL, PIT). They play 8-17-6 Predators next.
— Tom Gulitti (@TomGulittiNHL) December 16, 2024
Lindy Ruff as the Sabres flounder and have now lost ten games in a row: “I’m almost lost for words obviously. It’s on me to solve this. This is the toughest solve I’ve been around. It is on me to get these guys in the right place and win a hockey game and nobody else. Just me.” [Daily Faceoff]
Feel free to discuss these and any other hockey-related stories in the comments below.