December Hasn’t Been Kind to the New Jersey Devils

Good morning and happy Friday, December 16th.

Congrats to those who participated in yesterday's poll and predicted Sidney Crosby would have the most points last night as he registered two assists in the Pens 4-2 win over Florida.

Ovechkin and Rantanen each collected one point, while P. Kane and Marner were held pointless... Marner's point streak officially ends at 23 games, an impressive Leafs' record nonetheless.

Have a great weekend, fam! 🍻

— Brandon Rubeo

The New Jersey Devils couldn’t have picked a worse time to find themselves with their longest losing streak of the season.

The Devils suffered their fourth consecutive loss on a 2-1 decision to the struggling Philadelphia Flyers Thursday. Goalie Carter Hart’s 48-save brilliance was too much for a Devils team that suddenly is finding ways to lose instead of ways to win.

Coach Lindy Ruff’s Devils (21-7-2) hadn’t lost more than two in a row before this current losing streak.

This slump comes with the Devils about to enter a period in their schedule when they play seven consecutive games against teams that were in last season’s playoffs. That stretch includes two games against the Boston Bruins (23-4-2), who have the NHL’s best record, plus two more against the Carolina Hurricanes (17-6-6) who are only four points behind them in the Metropolitan Division.

The Devils also play the Pittsburgh Penguins who are currently in the midst of a seven-game winning streak.

Depending on what happens Saturday when the Devils host the Florida Panthers and Sunday when the Hurricanes play the Penguins, the Devils could play in Carolina Tuesday with first place in the Metropolitan on the line.

Despite losing five of their last seven, the Devils still have the NHL’s second-best winning percentage of .733.

The Devils shouldn’t have flipped the page on the calendar. They were 13-1 in November with a scoring average of four goals per game. This month, the Devils are 2-3-2 with a scoring average of 2.57.

TRIVIA: What is the longest losing streak in New Jersey Devils franchise history?

🐧 The Pittsburgh Penguins beat the Florida Panthers to extend their winning streak to 7 games. Better yet, Kris Letang scored a shorthanded goal (watch here), his first goal since returning to the lineup after suffering his second stroke. Jake Guentzel added two goals and Evgeni Malkin one, deflecting a Sidney Crosby slapshot off his knee (watch here), forcing him to leave the game. Fortunately for Pens fans, initial prognosis of the injury is positive.

🔥 Brayden Point buried his 16th goal of the season, extending his goal streak to 5 games. Tied 1-1 with the Blue Jackets headed into the third period last night, Point scored the game-winning-goal just over nine minutes into the third. In the past five games, Point has collected 6 goals and 1 assist. His 31 points through 29 games are good for third on the Lightning, behind only Kucherov (45 points) and Stamkos (34).

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• Moore signs 5-year, $21 million contract with Kings

• 🚨 Connor McDavid goes coast-to-coast for his 27th goal of season

• ✌️ Cole Caufield scores back-to-back minutes apart to tie the game

• ⏰ Blues STUN Oilers with shorty in final seconds to force OT

• 💥 Jarred Tinordi absolutely levels Paul Cotter

• 🤩 Tage Thompson dangles Georgiev for his 21st

• 🩼 Trevor Zegras breaking ankles with this dangle leading to Klingberg's goal

• 🥊 Nic Deslauriers & Michael McLeod drop the mitts

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TRIVIA ANSWER:

Depends how technical you want to get...

The Kansas City Scouts, which became the Colorado Rockies and then the New Jersey Devils, lost 14 straight back in 1976.

The Colorado Rockies lost 10 straight in 1979.

The New Jersey Devils as most of us know them have lost 10 straight four different times: 2021, 2017, 2013, and 1984.