Jacques Lemaire's line changes worked for one line last night as Zach Parise,Travis Zajac and Dainius Zubrus scored four of the teams five goals including the overtime winner by Zajac (15 powerplay) to lift the Devils to a 5-4 overtime win over Toronto that gave the Devils two badly needed points in the standings.
Parise scored two (24 and 25) with Zubrus ( 3) and Patrick Davis (1) adding the others.
New Jersey hosts the Los Angeles Kings tomorrow afternoon at five.
Hell Raisers
1) The game wasn't all good news for the Devils as a late game collapse forced overtime to begin with as two defensive breakdowns,one by usually reliable Bryce Salvador and the other by usually erratic Johnny Oduya, turned a 4-2 lead into a trip to the extra session.
Giveaways in front of the net led to both goals.,
2) Zach Parise could have had as many as five goals on the evening.
The Toronto netminders weren't at their best,but they robbed Parise on two occasions and arguably a third.
Without Parise,Travis Zajac (1 goal 3 assists) and Dainius Zubrus (1 goal 2 assists) ,the Devils do not win this game.
3) Disappointment of the night?
Former Ranger Colton Orr beating Marty Brodeur on a breakaway.
Yes,a BREAKAWAY for Colton Orr.
An awful job by Johnny Oduya and Mark Fraser for allowing a Colton Orr to ever get into a position for a breakaway goal.
4) After the game,Nick Palmeiri was returned to Lowell.
I liked what I saw from Nick,but he still needs time to develop into a contributor at the NHL level.
5) Nicklas Bergfors was a healthy scratch as apparently he is in the Lemaire doghouse.
Bergfors could return to the lineup against the Kings.
6) An active Bergfors could help the teams forwards,who other than the three mentioned players and maybe Brian Rolston were far from active in the win.
7) I understand the thinking in having two of your best defensive forwards on the ice so much in overtime and maybe its just me,but it seems like Rob Niedermayer and Jay Pandolfo are on the ice in 4 on 4 more than Parise and Zajac.
The stats don't back that up,but sure seems that way to me....
Photo Credits
Line:Rich Schultz-AP Photo
Parise:Andy Marlin-Getty Images
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