“Hornets Swarm Devils in Second Period: A Rough Start for New Jersey”

for a team that looked to be trending up just a few days ago after a convincing Game 3 victory over the Hurricanes. But the Devils’ Game 4 loss was a brutal reality check, highlighting some clear weaknesses that cannot be simply waved off or ignored.

The first and most obvious issue is the goaltending. Vanecek was pulled in Game 2 after giving up three goals on six shots, and he was shaky again in Game 3, allowing four goals on 25 shots. Yet, he was given the start in Game 4, and it proved to be a disastrous decision. Vanecek looked completely lost, giving up five goals in the second period alone. His replacement, Akira Schmid, did not fare much better, giving up another goal in the third period.

The Devils’ defense was also a major problem. Rookie Luke Hughes, who has looked promising at times during the playoffs, struggled in Game 4, as did longtime defenseman Damon Severson. Dougie Hamilton and Jonas Siegenthaler were largely ineffective, while Brendan Smith made several costly mistakes.

The Devils’ offense was unable to overcome these defensive flaws. After a strong start in the first period, the offense stalled out, struggling to create scoring chances and failing to capitalize on the few opportunities they did have. The power play, which has been a consistent issue for the team this season, continued to struggle, failing to capitalize on several key opportunities.

Perhaps most concerning was the lack of adjustments made by head coach Lindy Ruff. Carolina has consistently exploited the Devils’ weaknesses throughout the series, yet Ruff has failed to find effective countermeasures. Instead, he has stuck with the same lineup, even when players like Smith and Vanecek were clearly struggling.

It is unclear what the Devils can do to salvage the series and avoid elimination in Game 5. They will need to make significant improvements in their goaltending, defense, and offensive play, and they will need to do so quickly. But whatever the outcome may be, one thing is clear: the Devils cannot ignore the flaws that have been exposed in Game 4. If they hope to compete at a high level in the future, they will need to address these weaknesses head-on.

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