Maintaining a blemish-free record this far into the season for the first time in 23 years is a nice little footnote, but historical feats - as obscure as they may be - take precedence and Kyle Palmieri has blasted his way into a (somewhat random) league of his own...
I'm not ready to start pacing out season-long stats in mid-October, as the seven goals we've seen come off his stick (or skate) in the last four games is the most torrid example of what Kyle Palmieri tends to do, which is go streaking like his ass is on fire. However, health pending, you can safely pencil him in for 30+ and gnaw off the eraser, because he was looking this good last September before injuries almost immediately derailed his season. Eventually his linemates will start cashing in on their absurd amount of chances and spread around the scoring wealth, but it's definitely nice to see Kyle Palmieri get the opportunity to hit the ground running in record-setting fashion on a top line with which the chemistry is undeniable. As for the game in which that record was set, a three goal differential probably doesn't tell the whole story. That's due, in large part, to the fact that Keith Kinkaid took it upon himself to pen the final chapter with point-blank save after point-blank save, but it's also because the Devils are currently getting the bounces needed to win with consistency in a league as fickle and unpredictable as the NHL. Not to kill everyone's buzz, but Jason Spezza missed a wide open net on a breakaway, a loose puck appeared to have a mind of its own as it danced through the crease and over the awaiting sticks of both Jamie Benn and Jason Spezza, Tyler Seguin almost broke the damn post, and Nico Hischier literally fell ass-backwards into stopping a sure goal. The line between cause and effect is blurred, but the hockey gods have a way of working in your favor when you're playing well as a team so it's to the Devils credit that they've full taken advantage of their mercy. Now, the main reason why that advantage has, more often than not, been a comfortable one is Keith Kinkaid. He's been far better than anyone could have hoped for. I figured him to be a highly capable stand-in for Schneider, but he's been much, much more than that in proving that the second half of last season was no fluke. I'd imagine it being due to an improvement in positioning, but he's started making difficult saves look casual in a way that's reminiscent of the guy whose crease he's co-opted. He hasn't stood on his head as much as the numbers make it seem, but that's as much due to him looking as though he's relying less on his athleticism as much as it's due to a defense that's playing within well themselves.
If only because of the Devils' decisively dumbass puck management in the final minutes, Keith Kinkaid earned every second of last night's shutout and he's earned every ounce of trust among his teammates. To put it in his language, to start a contract year he's been... Amazingly enough, so has a defense that, despite not being all that talented, is performing well above the standard set by the rest of a league that appears to have forgotten the meaning. Great goaltending certainly helps, but the Devils have gone against some of the most intimidating talents the NHL has to offer throughout their first four games, and it's been rare that they've looked overwhelmed in doing so. Without much flash or finesse, their blue line has quietly put up far more points than they've allowed, which is certainly something to hang their hat on considering both the level of competition and the amount of times they've been put at odds by stupid penalties.
Of course, Ray Shero's latest pluck from his Pittsburgh pipeline deserves a tip of the cap after notching his third goal in as many games. In the later years of Lou Lamoniello's tenure in New Jersey, familiarity typically bred contempt, as a blind loyalty to players he knew turned the Devils into the NHL equivalent of a nursing home. With Ray Shero, familiarity has bred bottom six beauties, as Jean Sebastien Dea has basically gone about his business as a right handed Brian Gibbons in immediately adding depth scoring. I don't know that we should expect him to visit the back bar like he knows the tender all that often, but - much like almost everyone Ray Shero has brought along with him - he certainly fits the system.
Also, I would be remiss if I didn't the most ridiculous moment of last night's game, which somehow wasn't Anton Khudobin waving hopelessly for his teammates to get a stoppage so he could replace his broken stick, bur rather Taylor Hall intentionally flipping an opportunity for a lengthy 5-on-3 powerplay over the boards to earn himself a 'Delay Of Game' call. The reigning MVP has about 500 miles of leeway after last season, so I don't think I'm allowed to single out anything he's done less spectacularly until at least the All Star break, but playing dumb after making a...umm...less than smart play was absolutely hilarious in retrospect. Mostly because it barely served as a tap of the brake pedal as the Devils have continued rolling...
Now everyone put in some QT with your rabbit's foot as the status of Will Butcher and his shoulder(?) doesn't look like it'll be made available until tomorrow.
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