The New Jersey Devils had a measuring stick week. They faced the Tampa Bay Lightning on the road, then hosted the Florida Panthers, and wrapped up the tough games with an afternoon game against the Edmonton Oilers. All three teams are the standards of the NHL, at least based on their recent success. 

They won all three games, including some impressive wins as well. All three of the victories came by two goals, and the win against the Panthers showed off the defense, while the latest games displayed the firepower on offense. These are statements for the Devils, a team looking to prove they are more than just a playoff team. 

Devils Are Seeing The Offense Click

Jack Hughes looks like the Hart Trophy-caliber player many expected him to become this season. He’s centering the top line and making the Devils tough to stop. With Jesper Bratt on his wing, they are gashing defenses with speed and taking games with a coming six goals and seven assists. It’s what they did against the Oilers with Hughes skating through the opposition and taking over a game on one shift.

Jack Hughes beats the Edmonton Oilers' defense to give the New Jersey Devils a lead in the second period of the Saturday, October 18, game at the Prudential Center.Jack Hughes scored two goals to fuel a 5-3 win over the Oilers. Jack Hughes. AP Photo/Noah K. Murray

The Devils are also getting the most out of the Nico Hischier line. With Dawson Mercer and Timo Meier on it, it’s become a group that can win on the rush but also slow things down and grind out goals. The trio has eight goals and eight assists to start the season and is giving the Devils a reliable top six. 

Better yet, or to top it all off, the depth skaters have delivered. Connor Brown has three goals, including one against his former team on Saturday. Arseny Gritsyuk was a wild card heading into the season, yet with three assists, he’s emerged as a playmaker on the wing. The offense was expected to be great this season, and it is. That’s not a surprise. What is a shock is how everyone else has played to start the season. 

The Complete Game

The second goal Hughes scored against the Oilers embodied the 200-foot player he is. The back check forced a turnover and set up the breakaway for an easy goal. Hughes is an undervalued player defensively, and it’s because he’s not a physical presence. He uses his speed to his advantage, and it makes him a two-way player. 

The defense is also playing well to start the season. The Devils have allowed only nine goals in the last four games. Their game against the Panthers saw them shut down a forward unit known for coming at teams in waves, limiting the defending Stanley Cup champs to only one goal. It’s helped that Jake Allen has stepped up with the Jacob Markstrom injury, as he has a .934 save percentage and a 1.87 goals-against average on 76 shots with 2.7 goals saved above average. 

This article is heaping the praise, and at 4-1, they deserve some but not too much credit. It’s only five games, and there are still 77 games left in this marathon of a season. That said, a good measurement for a team that can go on a run is whether they can win in multiple ways or not. The Devils have proved early on that they can. 

These Were The Measuring Stick Games

The Devils started the season with a tough slate. The Carolina Hurricanes have their number, and the opening night games were a case in point of that. After the 6-3 loss, the Devils proved they can beat the best teams in the NHL, the teams they will presumably face in the playoffs if they go on a run. 

The Tough Stretch Continues for the Devils

The Devils face the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday night. Then they face the Minnesota Wild on short rest and on the road. These two teams have stumbled as of late but without question are excellent teams expected to be near the top of the standings. The Wild, in particular, can be a rough game as it’s on the road after the Devils got three in a row on their home ice (where they could do some home cooking).

These aren’t measuring stick games but they can certainly become trap games. Or more accurately, the Devils can’t take these opponents lightly, as a loss of two can start a losing streak or a slump ahead. The start is about as good as they could have asked for; now it’s about building on the momentum for this team with high aspirations. 

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