The math might still give the Devils a shot, but last night's game painted a pretty clear picture of their struggles this season. For even the most optimistic fans, it’s time to start thinking about the draft and prospects once again.
It was a familiar story: inconsistent effort, shaky goaltending, giving up odd-man rushes, and failing to capitalize until it was too late.
1st Period Recap
The Devils started with some promise, controlling the puck early on. However, as has been the case all year, they couldn’t convert possession into shots.
A defensive lapse led to an odd-man rush, and they found themselves down 1-0 just over five minutes in. Dillon was left exposed, and Markstrom might have done better.
Nine minutes later, Kevin Bahl made it 2-0 with a slap shot that deflected off Cotter’s stick. This came after the Devils were pinned in their own zone by one of the few teams scoring less than them.
The Devils got one back thanks to Bjugstad battling in the slot and setting up Tyspalkov, who found the net at 16:14 for his second goal of the year.
A high stick on Jack drew blood, giving the Devils a four-minute power play. Despite some pressure and a solid one-timer from Jack, the period ended with Calgary leading 2-1.
2nd Period Breakdown
Starting the second on the power play, the Devils aimed to even things up. However, a miscommunication between Dougie and Jack led to John Beecher intercepting a pass, scoring off his own rebound to make it 3-1.
The Devils responded on another power play. Luke drove through the center, and Nemec, with impressive netfront skills, hammered it home, bringing the score to 3-2. That’s ten goals for Nemec this season.
Calgary extended their lead again at 16:48. Luke’s pinch allowed Oloffson to find Ryan Strome, who set up Sharangovich for a slick finish, making it 4-2.
Looking at the numbers, troubling patterns emerged. Despite out-attempting Calgary 18-13, the Devils were outshot 9-5, gave up more high-danger chances, and lost the expected goals battle. They struggled to create traffic and were too easily hemmed in their own zone.
3rd Period Highlights
The third period began with Bryce Salvador noting Calgary's tough schedule, but it was Backlund who scored to make it 5-2. Another defensive lapse allowed a shot to slip through Markstrom.
The Devils mounted a late comeback that fell short. Jack and Bratt combined for a beautiful goal, cutting the lead to 5-3. Then, Luke scored with just 3.7 seconds left, making it 5-4, but time ran out, much like their season.
Final Thoughts
There were a few concerning body language moments from Jack, particularly after some missed plays. It’s puzzling why Markstrom got his seventh straight start when other options are available.
Lenni, after a promising start, has faced challenges, especially in the defensive zone. Confidence in him remains, but improvement is needed.
Grits stood out with his relentless energy, seemingly the only player consistently pushing all night. The fourth line was surprisingly effective, providing solid minutes and offensive zone time, unlike earlier in the season. However, the third line struggled.
So, Devils fans, what’s the outlook? Is there still hope, or are we looking ahead to next season?