New Jersey Devils and Montreal Canadiens Lock Horns in a Defensive Showcase at Bell Centre

In a tightly contested match-up, the New Jersey Devils and the Montreal Canadiens demonstrated defensive prowess at Bell Centre. The game concluded with the Canadiens edging out a narrow victory over the Devils, marking their season's performance with a 1-0 scoreline. This result leaves both teams reflecting on their strategies as they move forward in the season.

Game Highlights

The match was characterized by its defensive nature, with both teams showcasing their ability to limit scoring opportunities. The New Jersey Devils were particularly effective in faceoff wins, securing 54 percent of them which is indicative of their strategic play during even-strength situations. Despite this advantage, they struggled to convert these opportunities into goals, as evidenced by their zero percent shooting accuracy from 11 shots.

On the other side of the ice, the Montreal Canadiens capitalized on one of their 14 shots to secure the game's only goal during even-strength play. Their goaltender played an instrumental role in maintaining this slender lead by saving all 11 shots faced throughout the game.

Player Performances

Amongst individual performances for the New Jersey Devils, Jake Allen stood out despite being on the losing side; he made an impressive total of 13 saves from 14 shots against him. His efforts were particularly notable during shorthanded situations where he saved all six shots faced. However, Kurtis MacDermid’s discipline was a concern as he contributed three penalties to his team's total count.

For future games, it will be crucial for players like Nathan Bastian who led his team with three shot attempts but failed to score and Simon Nemec alongside Santeri Hatakka who both recorded negative plus-minus ratings to step up and convert their efforts into tangible results.

Looking Ahead

The New Jersey Devils will look to bounce back when they host Washington Capitals at Prudential Center in Newark on September 25th at 7:00 PM EDT. Fans can catch all action live on MNMT or NHL Network as both teams aim for victory early in this new season.