Devils drop opener to Jets 3-1

In what looks to the first of many in a long season,the New Jersey Devils fell to the Winnipeg Jets in their opener by a 3-1 score at the Rock.
Jiri Tlusty was credited with the only Devils goal (1 power play) to cut the Jets lead to 2-1 before a Jets goal in the third period by Andrew Ladd put the game firmly in the Winnipeg victory column.
The Devils travel to Washington tomorrow night...

Hell Raisers

1) Jiri Tlusty was credited with the Devils goal,but he really didn't have much to do with the only New Jersey goal as Winnipeg's Jacob Trouba put the puck into the Jets own net for the only N.J. goal.
I'll take those when you can get them,but you won't win many games counting on those types of goals..

2) Cory Schneider allowed three goals,but the first was deflected off David Schlemko.
Not a good night for the Devils netminder,but not an awful one either.
New Jersey isn't going to be good enough to win,if Cory Schneider is just OK...

3) I'll give David Schlemko a pass on the deflection,but he otherwise looked pretty overmatched.
Schlemko looks to be a seventh defenseman and playing him over Eric Gelinas is against what this team should be trying to build.
If the Devils were going to play slow,mediocre defensemen,they could have just kept Peter Harrold.

4) Winnipeg is a bad matchup for this Devils team.
They skate well,put lots of pucks on the net and just are faster than the Devils.
In other words,they are the type of team that the Devils should hope to be building towards.
Winnipeg didn't build this overnight and the Devils will not either,but there is hope...

5) Andy Greene was named captain before the game.
I think this is a good choice.
Greene could be around for a while and has the respect of the younger defensemen.
I suspected that Greene and Travis Zajac were the leading contenders for the spot and Zajac was named as an alternate captain along with Patrik Elias (upon his return) and Adam Henrique..

6) I liked the team coming out to AC/DC's Hell Bells.
With the Devils name,it lends itself to many cool songs and other interesting things that can be used to add electricity and excitement to the arena.
Hope to see it continue....