Devils take two at home

  After watching the New Jersey Devils stun the Florida Panthers earlier in the week with a seven-goal barrage in a 7-3 win over the then-once beaten Panthers, it would be fair to expect a letdown against their occasional rivals in the New York Islanders.

Instead, the Devils used the flawless goaltending of Mackenzie Blackwood to shut out the Islanders 4-0 at the Rock in Newark.

Devils goals to Dawson Mercer (4), Dougie Hamilton (3), Janne Kuokkanen (3 shorthanded), and Tomas Tatar (1 power play).

The Devils play next on Saturday against Boston on a crowded sports day, so unsure if I'll see the game live o not.

Hell Raisers

1) 42 saves from Mackenzie Blackwood in only his third game back from heel surgery showed his skills haven't been dulled by his time away.

Blackwood stepped up and kept the Islanders off the board despite his defense allowing a few too many opportunities and the Islanders had several strong chances- this one goes to Blackwood.

2) The Devils have become one of the faster skating teams in the league and one that seems comfortable in a run and gun game.

The Devils have gotten younger (youngest team in the league) and faster but the larger question is can the Devils keep the legs under them for an entire season playing in such a style?

It is always a question to ask for teams that are changing their style a bit but even more so when moving to an offensive style.

3) Why have the Devils gotten away with so many chances allowed to opponents?

Why it's due to an upgraded defensive corps and signing players like Dougie Hamilton and Ryan Graves to put in front of Mackenzie Blackwood.

When you have those types of players on your blueline you can take more chances because not only can they make up for a deficiency on a breakaway, their presence allows a team to be more aggressive on the offensive end.

We aren't reinventing the wheel here.

4) Love rookie Dawson Mercer and his potential to be the type of power forward the Devils have lacked for years. 

Mercer's line with Andreas Johnsson and Jesper Bratt was all over the ice and Mercer's play around the net is helping Johnsson bounce back from a disappointing first season with the Devils.

5) Special teams improvement?

Well, definitely from last season, and the win over the Islanders was keyed by goals on the power play and the man advantage.

Of all the things that cause me optimism for the Devils, it's the possibility of an improved power play that I'm most excited about.

It's been quite a while since the Devils have had a strong power play and any chances of a surprise season are going to depend on keeping that level of improvement.

6) I find it hard to hate the Islanders.

I don't know if it is all the years playing in the dumpy Nassau Coliseum, the cheap ads on the ice back then (Circulatory Socks?), or Lou Lamoriello turning them into a contender, but I have a hard time hating the Islanders.