Schwei: Looking For A Win, Greene's 400th And More Devils Notes
By John Schweibacher
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The New Jersey Devils are still looking for their first victory of the 2013-14 season.
New Jersey comes into the week with a record of 0-3-3, having failed to pick up a win during the first six games of a season for the first time in Devils history.
Here are the Devils' worst starts through six games:
• 1983-84: 1-5-0, 2 pts
• 2010-11: 1-4-1, 3 pts
• 2013-14: 0-3-3, 3 pts
• 1988-89: 2-4-0. 4 pts
• 2001-02: 2-4-0, 4 pts
• 1994-95: 2-3-1, 5 pts
• 1996-97: 2-3-1, 5 pts
The winless six-game record is technically not the first in franchise history. In their first year of existence back in 1974-75 as the Kansas City Scouts, the club went 0-5-1 in its first six games, managing a tie against the California Seals after an 0-5 start.
Here are the franchise's worst six-game starts as the Scouts and Colorado Rockies:
1974-75: Kansas City, 0-5-1 1 pt
1978-79: Colorado, 1-4-1 3 pts
1979-80: Colorado, 1-4-1 3 pts
1981-82: Colorado, 1-4-1 3 pts
Andy Greene played in his 400th NHL contest on Friday night against Calgary. Only 10 defensemen have appeared in at least that many regular-season games for New Jersey:
• Ken Daneyko: 1,283
• Scott Stevens: 956
• Scott Niedermayer: 892
• Colin White: 742
• Bruce Driver: 702
• Brian Rafalski: 541
• Tommy Albelin: 539
• Joe Cirella: 438
• Andy Greene: 401
• Paul Martin: 400
The Devils blew a 3-0 lead in Edmonton last Monday night and eventually lost to the Oilers, 5-4, in the shootout. It was just the 13th time that New Jersey ever lost a regular-season game in which they led by three or more goals:
• 10/7/13 at Edm: 3-0 lead after 2P, lost 5-4 (SO)
• 11/21/11 at Fla: 3-0 lead after 1P, lost 4-3
• 3/23/06 at Atl: 4-1 lead 2:31 into 3rd, lost 6-5 (OT)
• 2/10/01 at Pit: 3-0 lead 12:52 into 1st, lost 5-4 (OT)
• 4/13/97 at Phi: 4-1 lead after 2P, lost 5-4
• 12/12/92 at Pit: 3-0 lead 11:04 into 1st, lost 6-5
• 1/16/90 at Was: 3-0 lead 9:15 into 1st, lost 9-6
• 3/25/89 at Pit: 3-0 lead after 1P, lost 5-4
• 1/27/89 vs. Htf: 3-0 lead 10:14 into 1st, lost 8-6
• 11/14/87 vs. Det: 4-1 lead 4:51 into 2nd, lost 6-4
• 3/14/87 at NYI: 6-2 lead after 2P, lost 7-6
• 3/13/86 vs. Tor: 4-1 lead after 1P, lost 7-4
• 10/24/85 vs. Chi: 3-0 lead :38 into 2P, lost 6-4
Jaromir Jagr played in his 1,396th NHL game last Friday night in Calgary, the most ever by a Czech-born player, surpassing Roman Hamrlik's 1,395. According to NHL.com, Jagr is one of 14 Czech-born players in Devils history, four of whom are currently with New Jersey:
Player | GP w/ Devils
• Patrik Elias: 1,096
• Bobby Holik: 786
• Petr Sykora: 527
• Jan Ludvig: 288
• Marek Zidlicky: 76
• Jaroslav Modry: 52
• Karel Rachunek: 47
• Martin Skoula: 19
• Petr Vrana: 16
• Jan Hrdina: 13
• Richard Smehlik: 12
• Jaromir Jagr: 6
• Rostislav Olesz: 3
• Vlastimil Kroupa: 2
Minus: 3 Strikes -- The Devils have allowed at least three goals in all six of their games this season. The only other time New Jersey allowed three-or-more goals in their first six games at the start of a season was in 1983-84, when they gave up at least three goals in each of their first eight contests.
Plus: Safe At Home -- New Jersey will play four of its next six games on home-ice after their five-game Canada road trip ends Thursday in Ottawa.
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