Since our first edition of Devils Late-Night Statistics was a great success, we will continue with round two, just earlier in the evening.  We will focus on the Devils' special teams, scoring (or lack there of), goaltending, attendance figures (yikes), and a quick glance at the standings (much better), not in any particular order.

I had the opportunity to attend last night's Devils-Panthers contest at the Prudential Center.  I was maybe one of three fans in the building.  Just kidding.  But, I do not believe that 14,124 fans battled frostbite and clashed with rush-hour traffic to fill 80 percent of the arena.  In my guesstimation, the number was closer to 12,000 than it was to a sell-out crowd of 17,625.  Unlike Joel, I will not offer my thoughts and feelings on the Rock.  Most people have been there already and can judge for themselves, whereas I am a late bloomer.  Instead, I enjoyed the comfort of my living room, and blogged from there until last night of course.

Earlier this season, the Devils maintained struggling attendance numbers, halved many tickets, and offered tickets for 10, 25, and 35 dollars.  These upper-deck sections, which are miles from the ice require binoculars, were filled to capacity.  No surprises there.  Weekend numbers are undoubtedly higher, hence the reason that the Devils organization should schedule Philadelphia, NY Rangers, and Pittsburgh on weeknights.  More on the Atlantic later.

14,176… average attendance at Continental Airlines Arena in its final season

15, 382... Devils average attendance this season (22nd in the league)

87.3 vs. 74.5 percent… Prudential Center holds less seats and is filling up more of them apparently (ESPN’s NHL Attendance)… Good news!!!

In better news, the Devils ended an o-for-23 power play slump last night.  After Panthers Ruslan Salei and Bryan Allen committed minor infractions seven seconds apart, the Devils finally cashed in on the two-man advantage.  Zach Parise and Captain Jamie Langenbrunner assisted Brian Gionta’s 12th of season.  The Devils also fortunately killed off both of Florida’s power plays in their 3-2 win.

Special Teams Report:

5-0… when Devils score >2 PPG (only scored three power play goals twice this season)

14-2… when Devils score at least one goal on the man advantage (they certainly continued that trend against Florida)

Penalty Kill

10-3-2…Devils record when they kill off every penalty, as they were last night

19-3-2.. when Devils hold opponents to <3 goals (keep score low please!)

22-0-1… when Devils score >3 (see above)

In essence, the Devils are a low-scoring defensive-minded team, comprised of 11/12 forwards and 6/7 defensemen.  Tampa Bay, which maintains the league-leading scorer, Vincent Lecavalier, yet has lost 10 of its last 12 games.  In hockey, the team effort will always trump the individual talents.  This is living proof.  However, my theory is rejected by my next sentence.  The Devils would be in the same shoes as the Lightning without goaltender Martin Brodeur, who has been phenomenal this season and for the last decade.  Brodeur is on top of his game thus far, while leading the Devils to Atlantic-Division leading 47 points.

Brodeur’s Numbers:

20-13-2; 2.24GAA; .915SV%; 3 Shutouts; 8 Saves on 9 Shootout Attempts (88.9%)

Brodeur Among Overall Leaders

Wins: 2nd

Goals Against Average: 6th

Save Percentage: 13th (right around his career average of .913)

Shutouts: Top 5

Shootouts:  T-3rd with Henrik Lundqvist

2,092… Brodeur’s Minutes (4th in the league)

If anyone doubted Brodeur’s capabilities considering that he is 35 years of age,

Devils Current Record

22-14-3

14-3-1… when scoring first

9-1-1… when leading after first period

From what I can gather, the Devils are a strong team when they score first, score early, and hold their lead.  They do not blow many leads and prefer to rely on the superb goaltending of Martin Brodeur in low-scoring affairs.

I am not sure why GM Lou Lamoriello signed former Rangers netminder Kevin Weekes to start merely four games thus far.  Moreover, Brodeur, who has started nine straight, is on pace for another 70-start season.  I would like to see Weekes replace Brodeur in net and hoped that he would play on the second half of back-to-back nights.  Head coach Brent Sutter has not agreed with my philosophy, but he might also know that Brodeur and the Devils have not been to the Stanley Cup Finals in five years.  It’s possible that Marty has not tired in the postseason, but that the better team victored.

I do not hold by this approach.

In my opinion, resting the elder statesman will only lead to more success after the regular season ends.  Some argue that the Devils will not make it to the playoffs if Brodeur does not play as many minutes.  Those some people believe that without Alex Rodriguez, the New York Yankees would not have earned a spot in the playoffs this past season.  Maybe, they forgot Scott Brosius and the rest of the Yankees lineups from the mid-to-late nineties.  The point is Martin Brodeur is 35 and not getting any younger.  I recommend sacrificing some success in the regular season, which is doubtful, considering Weekes’ progress thus far (2-1-1; .919 SV%; 2.31 GAA) for Lord Stanley’s most prized possession.

Atlantic Division Standings:

New Jersey    22-14-3    47 PTS

Pittsburgh        21-16-2    44

NY Rangers    20-16-4    44

Philadelphia    19-14-4    42

NY Islanders    20-16-2    42

New Jersey leads the most competitive NHL division.  The remaining four teams are not far behind.  The Northwest is other division with at least four teams within five points of each other.  (The Southeast has four teams within seven points of the division leader).

The Devils and Rangers are among league leaders in fewest goals allowed, while the Flyers are third in power play efficiency.  The Islanders also prefer a low-scoring affair.  They rank sixth in penalty killing efficiency, while the Rangers are also in the top 10.  With 37 assists, Penguins' kid center Sidney Crosby currently places first in that statistical category.  Tack on his 16 goals and he is fifth in scoring.

Although Patrik Elias has only manufactured eight goals thus far, five of them are game winners.  He is tied with eight others in GWG.

Brodeur, Lundqvist, and Islanders' goalie Rick DiPietro all place in the top 10 in wins.  Flyers' goaltender Martin Biron likes save percentage.  His .920SV% is seventh-best, while Brodeur and Lundqvist will let nothing by them in the shootout period.  They have saved eight of nine shots in the shootout frame.

The Atlantic Division organizations have won at home and on the road.  They are one of two divisions with all five teams in the 40-point range.  They are dangerous and would all qualify for the playoffs as of this morning.

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