There’s much for the Devils to do in the final three weeks, like restart and salvage their season. They still need a victory to crack 90 points for the 13th straight time, Martin Brodeur lacks one to reach 40 for a record eighth time, and they still can mount a bid for a ninth Atlantic Division title.
First, though, they have to figure out how to score some goals. They have managed a grand total of one in their last two games, against teams out of the playoff berths, and they can credit their goaltending and defense that they scraped one point out of that meager production.
Whether Ilya Kovalchuk returns from Atlanta, attending the birth of his child, and the rest from their first day off yesterday since the Olympics, to produce goals as envisioned by Lou Lamoriello will be the key to how far the Devils go in the playoffs.
It seems unusual to be defending the Devils’ general manager, but he essentially did what he could at the trade deadline. Landing Kovalchuk was the stuff of inspiration, always a risk, and there is still no way to predict that his puck-possession style of play will not ultimately mesh with the Devils’ Way.
Lamoriello didn’t land that top offensive center he needed, spending his first-round capital on Kovalchuk, but he did try to get Matt Stajan, perhaps the best option, from Toronto before Calgary overpaid for the Devil-killer. And he did, sources say, make a serious bid for righty defenseman Joe Corvo that likely raised the price the Capitals paid.
What may pay larger dividends in the end was his subtle little nothing deal of a fifth-round pick for Martin Skoula from Toronto. One of Jacques Lemaire’s regulars in Minnesota, Skoula has stepped right into the same situation with New Jersey, and when combined with the return of Paul Martin, the Devils are no longer overworking Andy Greene, Bryce Salvador, Mike Mottau and Colin White.
Greene in particular has benefited by having his ice-time reduced to human levels. He played more than 25 minutes, the benchmark of gross overuse, 30 times during Martin’s recovery from a broken arm, and now he’s down to 20-23 minutes, still heavy work, but more sensible with the playoffs looming.
One possible link between New Jersey’s offensive flop and the lightened defensive workload is Greene’s significantly diminished point time on the power play. Among current Devils, Greene (12 points) stands behind just Zach Parise (21), Travis Zajac (19) and Jamie Langenbrunner (16), in power play production with New Jersey this season. Niclas Bergfors had 13 on the power play before being dealt in the deal for Kovalchuk (1-2-3 on the power play in 16 games with the Devils).
The Devils may be guilty of trying to force-feed Kovalchuk into the system, and taking a step back with him might be the answer. They really do have to decide which left wing is their No. 1, Parise or Kovalchuk.
The power play point was one of the biggest attractions Kovalchuk held for the Devils, but they need him finishing close-in more than dangling 64-feet out.
Repairs are required, but that’s one of the beauties of these Devils. They have the parts on hand, needing only the right diagnosis and a competent mechanic.
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The Devils complete three-game homestand against Blue Jackets tomorrow and the Rangers Thursday. They fell 1-0 to the Blues Saturday in front of their fourth sellout in five home dates. . . . Loss to Blues snapped Devils’ five-game home winning streak.