Devils stumble, Flyers sink deeper: Metropolitan Division roundup

It was a rough 24 hours for the Metropolitan Division’s strugglers. The New Jersey Devils closed their homestand with a convincing loss, the Philadelphia Flyers slid further into an already grim start, and the Pittsburgh Penguins continued to shuffle their blue line.

Devils outplayed as Senators stay hot

The New Jersey Devils dropped a 4-1 decision on home ice to the Ottawa Senators. According to Sportsnet, Tim Stützle led the way for Ottawa with a goal and an assist, while Linus Ullmark turned aside 29 shots. Shane Pinto and Stephen Halliday also scored for the Senators, per Sportsnet.

Momentum swung early in the second period. Sportsnet notes that Pinto scored just nine seconds into the middle frame after a clean offensive-zone faceoff win. Discipline was also a storyline: Sportsnet reports that Devils forward Anthony Mantha was assessed a major penalty for boarding after a hit from behind on Nikolas Matinpalo. Daily Faceoff adds that Matinpalo left the game with an upper-body injury.

Off the ice, Sportsnet featured Jack Hughes on a new segment in which the Devils star revisited some of his most memorable trips to the penalty box, including a high-sticking call in an Olympic gold-medal game, a piece of colour that stood apart from Monday’s result.

Flyers’ historic slide and early-season scrutiny

In Philadelphia, the spotlight is getting harsher. Sportsnet reports that the Flyers suffered their seventh straight loss to open the season, a franchise record, and that head coach Rick Tocchet had no answers after the latest defeat. In a separate segment, Sportsnet debated whether it is fair to pin the blame for the “dismal” start on Tocchet, or whether fans should look more at the players and management.

On the personnel front, Daily Faceoff reports that defenceman Helge Grans was placed on waivers after appearing in just one game and appears headed back to the AHL. The standings underscore the situation: the Flyers sit last in the division with 2 points in 7 games (0-5-2).

Penguins, Hurricanes and Rangers manage blue-line and goalie issues

The Penguins made another move on defence. According to Daily Faceoff and Sportsnet, the Buffalo Sabres acquired Caleb Jones and Jack Laatsch from Pittsburgh in exchange for Ryan Johnson. Daily Faceoff notes that Johnson, now a Penguin, was originally a first-round pick of the Sabres in the 2019 NHL Draft. Daily Faceoff also reports that Trevor van Riemsdyk has been placed on injured reserve with a lower-body injury after already missing one game.

Daily Faceoff further notes that Vegas defenceman Parker Wotherspoon, acquired in the off-season in a trade with the Penguins, is out week-to-week with an upper-body injury.

In Carolina, The Hockey Writers highlight Logan Stankoven’s success while shorthanded, describing it as an added dimension for a Hurricanes penalty kill that has long been among the league’s best. The Hurricanes are without Jordan Staal, however; Daily Faceoff reports the veteran centre was a late scratch with a lower-body injury before Carolina’s 4-1 win over the Flyers on Sunday.

In New York, Sportsnet and The Hockey Writers say the Rangers are searching the trade market for help in goal with Igor Shesterkin out, focusing on cheaper and more realistic targets than a blockbuster for Connor Hellebuyck.