Jesper Bratt is on pace for 75 points, and Andreas Johnsson is having a career season. It’s not like the Devils lack talent, either. Related: 3 Takeaways From Devils’ 3-2 Loss to the Predators If we scale down the sample size to the Devils’ last 12 games, and they’ve actually been outscored 3-2 in 30 power-play opportunities - a net success rate of -3.3 percent. It’s virtually impossible when its net conversion rate is 3.4 percent. It’s hard to win games consistently when your power play only converts on 12 percent of its chances.
That’s a net conversion rate of 3.4 percent, which would be a historically terrible power play. It’s six for its last 58, and when you factor in shorthanded goals given up, it’s a net of two for 58. The Devils’ power play has been particularly bad as of late too. That’s a goals for percentage (GF%) of 66.67 percent, the worst in the league and by more than 10 percent. They’ve only scored eight power-play goals this season and have already given up four shorthanded goals. In 2020-21, the Devils scored 20 power-play goals while giving up four shorthanded goals. What’s worse is their power-play goal differential has also dropped. Their shot quality has even dipped, as their xGF/60 now sits at 4.44.
The Devils still rank in the bottom five in shot attempts per 60 minutes and xGF/60. Moving ahead to the 2021-22 season, and many of those issues are still prevalent. Mark Recchi as an assistant coach with the Pittsburgh Penguins (Photo by Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)