Devils Takeaways: Quick Responses, Clutch Saves, & Haula’s Big Night

Later, Connor Clifton blindsided the Devils captain with a big hit and as a result, was ejected from the game receiving a match penalty. Ondrej Palat’s wires crossed coming to the defense of Hischier who went to the locker room following the collision. The veteran forward received a two-minute instigator and five five-minute major penalties. Jesper Bratt, however, quickly got his vengeance, tying the game just seconds into four-on-four play after the penalties were sorted.

The score didn’t indicate how well the Devils played in the opening frame. They dominated the chance differential 12-8 (a 60 CF%), however, a few hiccups ended the first period tied at two. Clean those up and that’s the first period the Devils want to keep playing.

Clutch Saves

Devils fans have been waiting for this one all season.

New Jersey has struggled to get clutch saves this year. Against Washington, Ruff pinned the loss on the teams’ defense while defending his goaltending. He was right. However, every once in a while you need a big save or two to bail out your team.

That’s exactly what the Devils got on Friday night.

We knew this might happen with Luke. A handful of rookie mistakes led to turnovers in the Sabres end and as a result, scoring chances for Buffalo were made. Luckily for the 20-year-old defenseman, Vanecek was up for the challenge to bail him out. A pair of breakaway opportunities for Alex Tuch and Zemgus Girgensons were turned aside by the Devils’ goaltender to keep things tied at two in the second period.

Tuch may be seeing Vanecek in his nightmares tonight. The Sabres forward had a handful of more opportunities to score later in the period. However, Vanecek denied Tuch the opportunity to score, including a wrap-around chance in which the Devils goaltender made a split stop.

Between Vanecek and Schmid, New Jersey hasn’t received the big saves so far this season. They finally got some on Friday thanks to Vanecek.

“The saves (Vanecek) made in the second period, some of the odd number rushes in a key time of the game for us, those were big mistakes as a club (and he bailed us out),” Ruff explained.

Haula’s Big Night

Friday night was quite the game for Haula. The 32-year-old forward came in clutch twice, giving the Devils a lead twice in the same game.

Haula skated in a new role on Friday playing left-wing as opposed to center. Skating alongside Dawson Mercer and Curtis Lazar, the new trio defended well, although were on the negative side of a 6-7 chance differential.

However, Hischier’s injury left New Jersey shorthanded. As a result, Haula skated in a number of different scenarios. His first goal came on the penalty kill in which he created the chance all on his own. The Finnish forward forced a turnover at the Devils’ blue line and sprung himself for a breakaway shorthanded and beak Pekka-Lukkonen on the backhand. He later redirected a point shot by Kevin Bahl, the eventual game-winning goal.

Individually, Haula was one of New Jersey’s best forwards all night accruing a 65 CF%. He even won 10/13 faceoffs.

It’s too bad his stick broke on a shot with the net empty that surely would have been a hat-trick.

“It’s a little sad,” Haula chuckled. “I don’t have a hat trick. I don’t know if I’ll get another opportunity for one.”

Ruff continued: “I don’t think (Haula, who was a little banged up) was up to speed in the previous couple of games. I think tonight we saw more of what we need out of him.”

Quick Shifts

• Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt extended their point streaks to seven and six games respectively.
• Luke Hughes registered his first multi-point game of the season with a pair of assists.
• Jack had a strong night in the faceoff dot winning 10/16 draws.