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Sloppy, Sloppy, Sloppy describes how the Devils played tonight. They let up four, yep FOUR, first period goals that decided the game early.

From turnovers to just sloppy play, the Devils left Nico Daws out their to dry in his second career NHL start. Milan Lucic scores on a breakaway that should have never happened. Andrew Mangiapane scored from his knees after Jonas Siegenthaler gave the puck right to him at the blue line. Next was an Elias Lindholm tip in front and Mangiapane topped it off with a highlight reel breakaway goal on Scott Wedgewood.

Just the worst first period of hockey I have ever seen this team play. They looked lethargic moving up and down the ice and we're a defeated team just 10 minutes in. Wedgewood helped the Devils survive the rest of the first with it only being 4-0.

The Second was not much better as the Devils had virtually no offense besides a bad turnover by the flames goalie to allow Pavel Zacha to bury a sharp angle shot into an open net. They also only had 12 shots after 2 periods...

The third showed that the Devils don't have any quit in them after all. Dawson Mercer showed off his hands for a sweet goal to give Devils fans some life.

Finally Pavel Zacha posted his second goal of the night on a 5-on-4 powerplay advantage.

The Devils had an absolute putrid start to the game that if they didn't make unforced turnovers and give up 2 breakaways, this would be a different game. The Devils can compete with anyone they play this year but they always need to have a decent start. Putting yourself down 4-0 10 minutes into the game is always a killer and very hard to overcome no matter who you are.

The Devils put together a very good third period and hopefully they can take hat third period into their next game this Saturday when they visit Pittsburgh for the first time this year.

Hopefully a healthy Blackwood will be able to make his season debut on Saturday because God knows we need him to keep us in a lot of games this year.