It feels like so long ago that the Devils were in the midst of a franchise-record 13-game winning streak. But now, less than a month later, the team is in the worst slump of the season.

After their 4-1 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday night, the Devils have lost six straight and fallen to second in the Metropolitan Division.

“We battled hard but we’re beating ourselves right now and it’s really frustrating,” Nico Hischier said after the game. “We’re not getting the bounces right now, but it’s not lacking on the work ethic. It’s just not smart from us on some plays and it cost us goals.”

The Devils definitely had their chances, getting 38 shots on goal -- as opposed to just 20 for Carolina -- but could only find the back of the net once, a Jack Hughes cut-around goal at 15:24 of the third period.

“It comes with time and being through a lot of hardships,” Mackenzie Blackwood said of his team’s frustrations. “Everyone is competitive and you want to do the best you can all the time. Sometimes it’s not going to go in for you, so if you let the frustrations and emotions get the best of you it’s going to get worse. Stay cool in the games and work your way through things.”

Blackwood replaced Vitek Vanececk, who allowed three goals on 13 shots, to start the third period. The 26-year-old was recalled Monday from the AHL to make his first appearance in since spraining his MCL on Nov. 3.

The Canadian-born goalie will likely start Wednesday against the Florida Panthers, not a long time for New Jersey to find answers. But the quick turnaround, Mackenzie believes, can be a good thing as it doesn’t allow the team to dwell on bad losses like the one the Devils suffered Tuesday.

Hischier is also looking forward to tomorrow so the team can put this game behind them and play the game they’ve played for much of the season.

“We gotta clean it up,” he said. “We’ve been talking about it a few games already and it’s not happening. It’s not acceptable any more. We’re beating ourselves here.”

Coach Lindy Ruff, in his third season with the Devils, says the team is beating themselves in the goals against. They committed four penalties -- although they killed all four of them -- but they allowed too many breakaways and turnovers.

Despite that, Ruff believes the way to getting back to their winning ways is attainable.

“We’re shooting ourselves in the foot a little bit. Doing too much or not being smart, forcing things,” Ruff said after the loss. “Do the things that got you here, keep it simple, that's what’s ultimately going to get us through it.”

The road ahead for the Devils isn’t easy. After Wednesday’s game against the Panthers in Florida, New Jersey will host the Boston Bruins for two games before traveling to Pittsburgh to take on the Penguins and then a rematch with Carolina.

If New Jersey doesn’t fix the mistakes that have put them on this losing path, their promising season can get away from them fast.

Popular in the Community

More from sny