The Matchup: The New Jersey Devils (32-31-2) versus the Los Angeles Kings (27-23-15).<\/p>\n
The Broadcast: TV \u2014 MSGSN, Radio \u2014 Devils Hockey Network<\/p>\n
The Devils might still be \u201cNHL .500,\u201d but there is a key issue with their team this season: they have lost more games than they won. For a little while, they got back above with their four-game winning streak, but two brutal losses to the Detroit Red Wings and Calgary Flames have sank them once more. Thanks to their lack of overtime losses this season, which have kept the objectively bad Los Angeles Kings in a playoff spot, the New Jersey Devils can only afford to lose one or two more games in regulation this season. But that\u2019s just what happens when you play in a league that rewards being a loser in 65 minutes rather than 60 and most of the team\u2019s losses are by more than one goal. Whose fault is that? Well, it might come down to\u2026<\/p>\n
Once a turnover happens, their system requires forwards to track back into coverage as opposed to pressuring to get the puck back. This is why you see so many \u201cone-and-done\u201d offensive chances. This is one of my biggest gripes with Keefe\u2019s systems, is we were told we would be \u201cpressuring the puck all over the ice\u201d but instead the first instinct is to fall into a defensive posture.<\/p>\n
This then brings us to the neutral zone, where once again we play prevent, as opposed to applying pressure.<\/p>\n
After a few games of playing the right way during their four-game winning streak: that is, playing quickly on the rush, forechecking, and pressuring the puck with three or four skaters at or below the dots in the offensive zone, the Devils regressed right back to the ultra-conservative offensive system they had been flailing with all season. Tim also recapped the recent loss to the Flames<\/a>, which I only saw the third period of. What I saw there was Keefe continuing to refuse to pull the goaltender, which should have been done after the third goal against. Without the softie allowed by Markstrom at the start of the period, the Devils might have actually taken that game to overtime. But even after Jack pulled the team to within two, Keefe would not pull Markstrom for the extra attacker until there was only a bit over three minutes to play. Down multiple goals, it generally behooves coaches to pull their goalies with five or more minutes left in the game: especially for a team as starved for goal-scoring as the Devils. But hey, at least Keefe had some shots for the guy who made it a game again.<\/p>\n