Schwei's Devils Notes: New Jersey Is Off To A Rough Start
By John Schweibacher
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The New Jersey Devils came up empty in their first two games of the 2015-16 NHL season.
New Jersey lost 5-3 Saturday night in Washington, falling to 0-2 on the season. It is the sixth time in club history the Devils have begun the season with two consecutive losses:
· 2015-16 (0-2-0): Lost 3-1 vs. Wpg/Lost 5-3 at Was
· 2013-14 (0-2-0): Lost 3-0 at Pit/Lost 4-3 vs. NYI (SHO)
· 2010-11 (0-1-1): Lost 4-3 vs. Dal (OT)/Lost 7-2 at Was
· 2009-10 (0-2-0): Lost 5-2 vs. Phi/Lost 3-2 vs. NYR
· 2001-02 (0-2-0): Lost 6-1 at Was/Lost 6-4 vs. NYI
· 1998-99 (0-2-0): Lost 2-1 at Chi/Lost 3-1 vs. Pit
· 1983-84 (0-2-0): Lost 6-2 at NYR/Lost 3-1 vs. NYR
John Hynes is the fifth Devils head coach (six occasions) to begin his tenure with at least two straight losses:
· John Hynes: 2015-16 (0-2-0) -- Lost 3-1 vs. Wpg/Lost 5-3 at Was
· Jacques Lemaire: 2010-11 (0-3-0) -- Lost 5-1 vs. NYI/Lost 4-1 vs. Tor/Lost 3-1 vs. NYR (midseason coaching change).
· John MacLean: 2010-11 (0-3-0) -- Lost 4-3 Dal (OT)/Lost 7-2 at Was/Lost 3-1 vs. Pit
· Jacques Lemaire: 2009-10 (0-2-0) -- Lost 5-2 vs. Phi/Lost 3-2 vs. NYR
· Robbie Ftorek: 1998-99 (0-2-0) -- Lost 2-1 at Chi/Lost 3-1 vs. Pit
· Tom McVie: 1983-84 (0-2-0) -- Lost 4-1 at Pit/Lost 6-2 at Bos (midseason coaching change).
The Devils lost their regular-season opener to the Winnipeg Jets, 3-1, last Friday night. New Jersey is now 2-5-2 overall at "The Rock" in home openers since moving there for the 2007-08 season.
Jiri Tlusty scored a power-play goal in his Devils' debut vs. his former team. Tlusty is the 12th player acquired by New Jersey in an offseason move (trade/free agency) to score in the first game of the following regular season, and just the second (joining Turner Stevenson) to do so against the team he played for during the previous season:
· 2015-16: Jiri Tlusty vs. Wpg
· 2014-15: Mike Cammalleri (2) at Phi
· 2010-11: Jason Arnott vs. Dal
· 2000-01: Turner Stevenson vs. Mtl
· 1991-92: Stephane Richer & Tom Chorske vs. Stl
· 1990-91: Claude Lemieux (2) vs. Det
· 1989-90: Sylvain Turgeon (3) at Phi
· 1987-88: Jim Korn at Pit
· 1984-85: Rich Preston & Doug Sulliman vs. NYI
· 1982-83: Hector Marini vs. Pit
Tlusty, Sergey Kalinin, John Moore, Kyle Palmieri, David Schlemko and Lee Stempniak all made their Devils' debut on opening night.
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the total of six newcomers tied a club record, which had happened three times previously:
· 2007-08 at Tampa Bay: Aaron Asham, Niclas Bergfors, Mike Mottau, Karel Rachunek, Vitaly Vishnevski and Dainius Zubrus
· 1989-90 at Philadelphia: Neil Brady, Viacheslav Fetisov, Walt Poddubny, Reijo Ruotsalainen, Sergei Starikov and Sylvain Turgeon
· 1984-85 vs. NY Islanders: Uli Hiemer, Kirk Muller, David Pichette, Rich Preston, Doug Sulliman and Mitch Wilson
Andy Greene was named the 11th captain in Devils history on Friday, joining Mark Giordano of the Calgary Flames as the only two undrafted players to currently serve as NHL captains.
Here are the Devils' regular-season records during the stints of their first 10 captains (courtesy of the Devils' official website):
· Don Lever (10/5/82 to 1/9/84): 26-79-16, 68pts
· Mel Bridgman (1/9/84 to 3/9/87): 82-154-24, 188pts
· Kirk Muller (10/9/87 to 3/31/91): 134-144-42, 310pts
· Bruce Driver (10/5/91 to 4/15/92): 38-31-11, 87pts
· Scott Stevens (10/6/92 to 1/7/04): 486-283-142, 1,114pts
· Scott Niedermayer (1/9/04 to 4/4/04): 23-16-4, 50pts
· Patrik Elias (10/6/06 to 4/8/07): 49-24-9, 107pts
· Jamie Langenbrunner (12/5/07 to 1/4/11): 97-56-11, 99pts
· Zach Parise (10/8/11 to 4/7/12): 48-28-6, 102pts
· Bryce Salvador (1/19/13 to 11/10/14): 60-55-30, 150pts
Plus/Minus:
Plus: Good Start -- Tlusty assisted on Adam Henrique's goal against Washington and has two points in his first two games with New Jersey.
Minus: Bad Start -- The Devils allowed eight goals in their first two games, the most since giving up 11 in the first two games of the 2010-11 season.
