Luck and Expectation Before and After Thursday Share this story Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images The New Jersey Devils have started off the season better than most people predicted. Indeed, I was particularly bearish on the team heading into the season, and have been happy to be wrong about that early on, even despite the current two game skid. Jack Hughes has had the start the team desperately needed him to have, as he needs to blossom into that absolute #1. Some players have surprised, such as Miles Wood and especially Scott Wedgewood, who has been better than expected in his replacement role. And he replaced a smoking hot goaltender in Mackenzie Blackwood who played the first couple of games in a Vezina fashion. If he plays like that upon his return, watch out.