In a game that was filled with excellent play from both teams,the New Jersey Devils snapped a 1-1 tie with two third period goals and took a 3-1 decision over the Pittsburgh Penguins in an important Atlantic Division battle.
The Devils trimmed the Penguins lead to just two points in the division and have played two fewer games than Pittsburgh.
Devils goals to Ilya Kovalchuk (35),Patrik Elias (12) and Andy Greene (6).
The Devils cannot relax as tonight they travel to Long Island to play the pesky Islanders,who always seem to play New Jersey tough.
Hell Raisers
1) First thing off the bat,yes Penguin fans,it did appear that Travis Zajac hit Marc-Andre Fleury's glove on the goal scored by Ilya Kovalchuk.
Fortunately,it did not make a difference in the outcome.
2) This really was three different games.
The first was an up and down the ice offensive game,the second a special teams oriented tussle and the third was more along the lines of a normally paced game.
For the second game in a row,putting the win aside,the Devils played a fun game to watch as a fan.
3) Player of the game was Marty Brodeur,who looks to (MAYBE) be peaking at the right time rolling into the playoffs.
I thought Marc-Andre Fleury played well for the Penguins as well and helped make the game as good as it was.
4) Andy Greene's goal was his first in quite a while (over 25 games,I'd bet),but his assist and four hits were just as important in an excellent game...
5) The Power play still needs work though,not taking advantage of of nine minutes of PP time in the second period could have cost them the contest.
Not a ton of shots and not one chances stands out to me that Fleury had to make a great save on....
6) Of course,five minutes of that time was because of a stupid and extremely cheap shot by Craig Adams after the play was stopped on Martin Skoula.
If that was a Devil player that made a hit like that,I would have even more words for the brain dead hit.
I love physical hockey,but after the play brings major penalties and it takes no talent to smash an unsuspecting player after the whistle has blown...
7) I don't enjoy the shootout,but the penalty shot is exciting hockey and Ilya Kovalchuk's shot with the game tied at 1-1 was high drama.
Fleury made the save,but I would rather the rules be modified for a few more penalty shtos than games decided by shootouts
8) The win was the Devils 2nd in a row.
Big deal,right?
Well,they had not done that since January!
9) A rare fight for Rob Niedermayer against Matt Cooke.
A tip for Rob-Points for defending yourself,but leave that to the pros!
May be back later with more,if not tomorrow with Devils-Islanders.
Photo Credit
Al Bello-Getty Images
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