Some Thoughts Before Game 4

Assorted NJD notes before 7p ET tonight

1) Curtis Lazar and Nico Hischier both noted the team’s “patience” after Game 3. So did Lindy Ruff. I know everyone wants the Devils to flex their regular season strengths…and they want to as well, unsurprisingly. To go get the series, they’re going to need more than 4 goals in a 3-game span. But I think it was important for them to get comfortable handling a pace where…the ice you want just isn’t there and not to force it. Especially when the margin for error in the series at that point was razor thin.

Now they have some confidence. We saw what they can do in the 1st period of Game 3. They created noticeably more room in the NZ. They got inside in the OZ.

In the 2nd period, the stretches of even strength play duration went as follows: 4:24, :58, :45, 1:37, 2:57 and :49. Just so choppy with all the penalties.

There was only one penalty in the 3rd…but in a tie game in the 3rd period, everyone’s going to tighten up because that’s the way it is. The Devils still out quality’d NYR in that frame at 5-on-5, even if they were out-attempted/shot.

It feels like it’s starting to come. Let’s see what it looks like if it’s not a parade to the box. I know it’s been hard, but it’s the playoffs. It’s supposed to be hard.