As we get set to close the chapter in the month of February and start the next chapter in the month of March, the New Jersey Devils are continuing to do what they have been doing since November, and that is winning hockey games.
As of this writing (Saturday, February 25), the Devils are second in the Metropolitan Division and third in the NHL with a 38-15-5 record and 81 points. Not only are they more than secure when it comes to being in a playoff spot, but they are just five points behind the division-leading Carolina Hurricanes.
One player that has really stepped up his game for the Devils is forward Dawson Mercer. He currently had a career-high five-game goal-scoring streak with seven goals and has two assists during the streak.
Mercer, 21, has had a great season for the Devils this season. He has 38 points in 58 games and has shown a flair for the dramatic this season, as he is fourth on the team with four game-winning goals this season.
One of them came on Thursday night, February 23, in his team’s 4-3 overtime win over the Los Angeles Kings. The Devils were down 2-0 in that game, and not only did Mercer manage to tie the game at 2-2, but he won it in overtime for his hockey club.
Another player that continues to play well for this team is goaltender Vitek Vanecek. Vanecek, 27, has only one regulation loss in the past 15 games, as he is 13-1-1 over that span.
Vanecek has been one of his team’s best players this season. He is currently 25-6-0-3 with a 2.37 goals-against average, a .913 save percentage, and two shutouts.
Of course, you cannot talk about the Devils and not mention the play of their superstar Jack Hughes. Hughes, 21, leads the team with 72 points on 35 goals and 37 assists and has not missed a beat since returning from an injury back on February 18.
What will be interesting to see is if the Devils find a way to acquire San Jose Sharks forward Timo Meier at the trade deadline. Meier is currently out of the lineup with an upper-body injury, but there is no doubt that Meier has been linked to the Devils for quite some time now.
Whether the Devils acquire Meier or not, they are in a good position to make some noise come April.
