The first win of the season is proving to be elusive for the New Jersey Devils.
Despite a 4-1 lead in the second period, the team gave up five unanswered goals Monday to lose to the Florida Panthers, 6-4.
“I think everyone as an individual needs to play better,” says Taylor Hall. “I know that's a broad term but everyone has to bring more. If you're a bottom six guy, we need more from you, if you're a top line guy like me, getting lots of power play minutes, you need production and games where you're not on for goals against.”
Goals from Hall and Jesper Bratt to bookend the first period gave the team much-needed momentum heading into the second. Will Butcher and Pavel Zacha both tickled the twine in the opening minutes to give the Devils a three-goal cushion, but a total collapse defensively allowed the Panthers to tally five straight and steal the win.
“You just have to do a better job keeping the lead, preserving the lead, putting us in a better position late in the game so I think we all individually need to figure out what we need to do and obviously for me, five unanswered goals is embarrassing for me,” says Cory Schneider.
The Devils will try to put an end to this unexpected start Thursday against the New York Rangers in Newark. The game starts at 7 p.m.