Devils Are In Search Of Exorcism

Three losses and a tie in their first four games is not a good start to a season, especially for a team like the New Jersey Devils, which has aspirations of challenging for the Stanley Cup.

After, Saturday’s 5-1 road loss to Montreal, Devils coach Jacques Lemaire and some of the Devils could not explain the lackluster showing, but the answer might be on the desk of Lou Lamoriello, the team’s president and general manager.

Twelve of the Devils who played Saturday are in the option year of their contract. Lemaire, meanwhile, was fuming after the game.

“I don’t know if the guys think it’s a picnic or what,” he said. “Our strength is positioning and defensive hockey. I talked to them about it, but it’s like I’m talking to the bench.”