10/28 Devils vs. Blackhawks: 3 Things We Learned
by Julie Robenhymer / newjerseydevils.com
The Devils get a point from the Blackhawks with a 3-2 overtime loss at Prudential Center on Hockey Fights Cancer Night. Here's what we learned:
1) Four shots in the third period isn't going to cut it. Yes, the Devils scored on one of those shots to take a 2-1 lead, but then they collapsed defensively and let Chicago pepper Keith Kinkaid with more shots in the third period than they did in the first two periods combined. Head coach John Hynes has been preaching consistency, but his team reverted to bad habits in the last ten minutes of regulation - committing a double-minor penalty didn't help - and it cost them the win.
He said: "We played smart enough to earn a point, but not smart enough to earn two."
2) Despite the loss, Keith Kinkaid played well in his first game of the season and had some outstanding saves to keep the game close, including one against Patrick Kane in overtime. As captain Andy Greene said after the game, "He played well enough to get the win. It's too bad we couldn't get it for him."
3) While the players won't skate tomorrow morning because they're playing on back-to-back nights, there will certainly be video to review. Hynes is all about the details and making smart decisions with and without the puck and felt his team didn't execute as best they could tonight. The good news is these are minor tweaks with major impact and not a huge overhaul. As he said in the postgame press conference, "We just need to play the way we know how and we'll be ok."
The Devils host Tampa Bay tomorrow night in the final game of this four-game homestand. Join Ken Daneyko and me at 6 p.m. for the Pregame Show on Facebook Live. Then come on down to The Rock and celebrate Halloween with us, listen on WFAN or watch on MSG+. Puck drops at 7 p.m.