Are the New Jersey Devils for real? Exploring the team’s surprisingly hot start to the season

The New Jersey Devils are on a 13-game win streak and have the most points (41) of any team in the NHL. They are playing at a 134-point pace.

The New Jersey Devils are off to a good start to the season. They have a +36 goal differential. Last year all but two teams with a positive goal difference made the playoffs. The Montreal Canadiens missed the postseason. New Devils' goalkeeping last year was very bad. They used seven goalkeepers over the course of the whole season and allowed 54 more goals than they would have allowed with an average goalie. Their goal tending cost them nearly two-thirds of a goal per game. It's a similar situation to Carolina Hurricanes. This team was a perennial contender before becoming a powerhouse.

New Jersey Devils are on a hot start to the season. They have a lot of young talent, including Simon Nemec and Luke Hughes, who are just a year away from debuting. The team has a good core of players, with core players signed for at least the next four years. They are a contender for the Microsoft Excel Cup and a real contender to win the Stanley Cup. It may take a season or two for young players to adapt to playoff hockey.