Elmont, NY – The New Jersey DevilsStruggling for nearly two months after a shaky 8-1 start, now looking for answers after confusion lost 9-0 to the opponent New York Islanders Tuesday night at UBS Arena.
The Devils have lost two in a row and four of six, and are behind the Eastern Conference playoff cut line after an October that saw them finish in first place in the Metropolitan Division.
“Leaving the nine, it’s absolutely embarrassing. We have to wash it off as quickly as possible and I’m in charge of it,” the Devils captain nico hischier Said. “I’m expecting a big reaction game from myself and I’m expecting the same from my team.”
The Devils recently welcomed their best player back from injury jack hughes He returned on December 21 after sitting out a month following finger surgery caused by a cut on his right hand during a team dinner. But this is not reflected in the standings. On Tuesday, although they outshot the Islanders 44-24, including 15-7 in the first period, the veteran goaltender jacob markstrom Couldn’t keep the puck out of his own net.
Markstrom gave up goals on the first two shots he faced matthew barzal And Anthony Duclair – and finished with three for five, nine for 24. His teammates had little time to bounce back after losing at home. carolina storm In a game on Sunday in which the young defenseman luke hughes Twice put the puck in his own net.
Markstrom said, “We want to apologize to the Devils fans. I have to be better.” “We took over 40 shots, and they took 20? Scored nine. I’m embarrassed by myself. Not good enough. I have to be better.”
New Jersey coach Sheldon Keefe, who has seen his club lose six of its last eight games, surprisingly decided to keep Markstrom for the entire game even amid his struggles.
Keefe said, “I didn’t like the quality of chances we gave up, and Markie has been playing really well for us, and I felt I deserved a chance to stick in the first period and I decided to go back with him again in the second period.” “Once that next person moves in, for me now it’s just [he’s] Became its owner. “He’s just got to fight for the rest of the game.”
devil, who will visit pittsburgh penguins On Thursday night, Tuesday night ended with only three teams below them in the Eastern Conference: New York Rangers, ottawa senators And columbus blue jackets,
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
