The New Jersey Devils were shut out 3-0 by the Boston Bruins on Monday afternoon at TD Garden. Despite another strong performance from goaltender Nico Daws, the Devils couldn’t find the offense to earn any points. They fell to 22-16-3 on the season, while the Bruins improved to 26-8-9.
Game Recap
Period One
The first period was a forgettable one for the Devils’ skaters. Two early penalties, including a short period defending a 5-3, gave Boston the jump in the match. Daws stood on his head to bail the Devils out and keep the game scoreless.
Defenseman Brendan Smith was injured midway through the period following a knee-to-knee collision with Charlie McAvoy. He did not return to the ice, and the Devils played with five defensemen for the rest of the game.
New Jersey was outshot 16-9 in the first frame.
Period Two
The Bruins broke through just 30 seconds into play. Charlie Coyle scored short side on Daws off a backhanded pass from Marchand along the wall. David Pastrnak added a secondary assist.
After the goal, the Devils generated good pressure in the Bruins’ zone, but couldn’t solve Jeremy Swayman in net.
New Jersey led the shot count 10-9 in the period.
Period Three
The Devils took another penalty early in the third. They failed to clear the puck, and after a flurry of great saves from Daws, the Bruins cashed in. Pastrnak scored on a slapshot from outside the dots to double the lead. McAvoy and Marchand tallied the assists.
The Devils had some chances to pull back within one but struggled to generate second and third opportunities on Swayman. Boston secured the victory with an empty netter by Trent Frederic at 18:42. The goal was unassisted.
Boston outshot New Jersey 36-31 in the game.
Takeaways
Injury Bug Strikes Again
The extensive and growing list of injuries was particularly noticeable in this game. The Devils generated opportunities but didn’t have the finishing power to break through, especially against a team with a positionally sound defensive structure like the Bruins.
To make matters worse for the Devils, Smith played less than three minutes before leaving with an injury. Lindy Ruff revealed postgame that he will be evaluated after the team returns to New Jersey. Smith has been criticized for his defensive play this season, but he has routinely been one of their best penalty-killers and has stepped up his play more recently, even contributing on the scoresheet.
Should he miss time, Cal Foote could draw into the lineup for his first game as a Devil. His most recent NHL action came on April 14, 2023, as a member of the Nashville Predators.
Nemec Shines on the Blue Line
On a positive note, young defenseman Simon Nemec has been excellent in his first 20 games of NHL action. After his call-up from the Utica Comets, the 19-year-old has fit right in with NHL-caliber defensemen. His decision-making has been impressive, and his situational awareness is reminiscent of a seasoned veteran.
He also showed off the physical side of his game against the Bruins. He logged two hits and six blocked shots in a career-high 25:26 minutes of ice time. He even stepped up against one of the league’s most notorious pests, Marchand, and wrestled him to the ice following a check. In a season where half the opening night defensive lineup has missed time, Nemec has been the smart, dynamic, and physical presence that is so valuable on the blue line.
Up Next
The Devils look to rebound at home on Wednesday night when they face off against the Montreal Canadiens.
This is the second meeting of the season between the Devils and Canadiens. New Jersey took the first matchup 5-2 in Montreal on October 24.
The Canadiens sit seventh in the Atlantic Division with a 17-18-7 record.
Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. EST.
ITR 47: Then There Was Nothing – Inside The Rink
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Great article keep it going
Great recap of the game! It’s always exciting to see the Devils take on the Bruins. The third period was definitely a nail-biter, and I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. The devils’ comeback was incredible, and I’m so proud of them for pulling it off. looking forward to seeing them take on the Bruins again soon!
Great recap of last night’s game! It was a close one, but the Devils managed to pull off the win. I’m excited to see how they’ll continue to perform throughout the season. Good work on the blog post!