NHL Notebook: Devils Passing Every Test
The New Jersey Devils continue to prove their strength as they face challenging opponents. Just two days after a thrilling overtime win against the Montreal Canadiens, the Devils secured a 2-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins in a shootout during a Sunday afternoon game at the Prudential Center.
They remain the only undefeated team at home in the National Hockey League, boasting a perfect 7-0 record. These recent wins came against tough competition: Montreal was the second-best team in the Eastern Conference, and the Devils and Penguins ranked first and second, respectively, in the Metropolitan Division before Sunday's games.
Despite the early success, the season is still young. Playoff spots will be decided months from now, with the Stanley Cup returning in about eight weeks. The significance of these early challenges remains clear to the team.
"We’ve had lots of them," said Devils head coach Sheldon Keefe. "Those two games coming back from the road, those are real good teams, but I feel like every team we’ve played is really good. Even some of the games that we’ve played where you think it’s a team that didn’t make the playoffs or whatever it is last year, you look now and those teams are surging. Everyone’s good, every game is good."
The Devils' ability to overcome difficult tests early in the season reflects their resilience and readiness for the challenges ahead.
Author's summary: The New Jersey Devils remain undefeated at home and continue to impress by defeating top teams early in the season, showing strong potential for the playoffs.