ELMONT, N.Y. — The New Jersey Devils, struggling for nearly two months after a scorching 8-1 start, are now searching for answers after a puzzling 9-0 loss to the rival New York Islanders on 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 in first place in the Metropolitan Division.
«Giving up nine, that’s flat-out embarrassing. We’ve got to rinse this as quick as possible and I’m in charge of that,» Devils captain Nico Hischier said. «I’m expecting myself to have a big response game and I’m expecting my team to have the same thing.»
The Devils recently welcomed their best player back from injury, when Jack Hughes returned Dec. 21 after sitting out a little over a month following finger surgery from cutting his right hand at a team dinner. But it hasn’t shown in the standings. On Tuesday, though they outshot the Islanders 44-24, including 15-7 in the first period, veteran goaltender Jacob Markstrom could not keep the puck out of his net.
Markstrom gave up goals on the first two shots he faced — from Mathew Barzal and Anthony Duclair — and three on five, finishing with nine on 24. His teammates had little bounce back after losing at home to the Carolina Hurricanes on Sunday in a game in which young defenseman Luke Hughes twice put the puck into his own net.
Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday night, ended Tuesday night 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.
