Technically on early Wednesday morning in the Eastern time zone, the New Jersey Devils lost to the Colorado Avalanche, 3-6. It was 3-3 going into the third period and, well, a 0-3 period followed. Two goals allowed with an empty netter. Colorado clearly had the speed, the pace, and the quality to match the Devils' own skills. What gave the Avs the edge in that game was just how often they broke through to the net. Even the announcers on TNT were flabbergasted at how many odd man rushes the Devils gave up. And the goals allowed by Vitek Vanecek were similar in that they made the People Who Matter lament about A) wanting a save and B) wanting the team to defend better than this.

From what I have seen here and elsewhere, the latter point is sticking a lot more. General Manager Tom Fitzgerald also expressed similar concerns after the game. Ryan Novozinsky reported that Fitzgerald acknowledged the team's need to improve their defense and puck management, particularly in their defensive zone assignments.

The Devils' defensive shortcomings were evident during their recent road trip, where they allowed a total of 12 goals in four games. Analyzing the goals, it becomes clear that many of them were the result of defensive breakdowns and mistakes rather than solely goaltending errors. The team's inability to pick up opposing players, turnovers, and lapses in coverage were contributing factors in several of the goals scored against them.

While the Devils' statistics in areas such as shot attempts against, scoring chances against, and expected goals against indicate a solid defensive performance, the video analysis reveals the underlying issues. The data may suggest that the defense is performing reasonably well, but it does not account for the situational aspects and the specific breakdowns that led to the goals.

It is worth noting that the Devils' defensive struggles cannot be blamed solely on their goaltenders. While Vitek Vanecek and Akira Schmid have room for improvement in their save percentages, it is clear that the team needs to provide better support in front of them. Giving up high-quality scoring chances and odd-man rushes consistently greatly increases the difficulty for any goaltender to make saves.

Looking at individual performances on the defense, no single player stands out as the primary culprit for the defensive issues. Each defenseman on the team has had their moments of struggle, but no one has consistently underperformed to the extent that they are solely responsible for the team's defensive woes. The same can be said for the forwards, who have had their fair share of defensive lapses as well.

Addressing these defensive issues will be crucial for the Devils moving forward. Despite their respectable record, the tight competition in the Metropolitan Division necessitates a strong defensive effort. The team's ability to prevent scoring opportunities has been commendable, but their lapses in coverage and failure to execute defensive assignments have proven costly in recent games.

Head Coach Lindy Ruff and his coaching staff will need to work with the team to rectify these issues. While lineup changes and benchings have been employed to address poor performances, a more comprehensive solution may be required. Improved communication, better focus, and stricter adherence to defensive responsibilities are among the areas that the Devils will need to emphasize moving forward.

The Devils' upcoming games will provide opportunities for the team to demonstrate improvements in their defensive play. With more games on the schedule and divisional matchups on the horizon, the team will need to address these issues promptly to maintain their position among the top teams in the division.

In conclusion, the Devils' recent defensive struggles have highlighted the need for improved performance throughout the team. While goaltending is a factor, the breakdowns in defensive coverage and execution have been significant contributors to the goals allowed. The coaching staff and players must address these issues to ensure the team's continued success in the highly competitive Metropolitan Division.